Maharashtra Onion Farmers Struggle as Prices Plummet and Rains Wreak Havoc

Onion Farmers Drowning in Double Trouble

Maharashtra’s onion farmers are facing a double blow: falling prices and unseasonal rains. Since the beginning of May, pre-monsoon showers have lashed the state, damaging crops on thousands of acres and threatening their already strained livelihoods.

Heavy Rains Cripple Onion Crops

Reports indicate that onion-producing areas in Konkan, Nashik, Pune, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Amravati, and Nagpur have been particularly hard hit by the incessant downpours. The damage to the crops is still being assessed, but farmers are bracing for heavy losses.

Lasalgaon Market Reflects the Crisis

The average price of onions in the Lasalgaon market, a key onion trading hub, dropped to ₹1,150 per quintal on May 20. This marks a further decline in prices that were already struggling due to a glut in the market.

Farmers’ Preparations and the Impact of Weather

Farmers in Maharashtra typically begin preparing for the Rabi season a year in advance. They set up nurseries in August-September and carry out replantation from November to January. Farmers who harvested their crops before March this year saw good yields, but those harvesting in April-May have been caught in the crosshairs of extreme heat and unseasonal rains.

Storage Woes Exacerbating the Situation

The situation is even more dire for farmers who lack proper storage facilities. Their harvested crops have been exposed to the rains, leading to further damage and losses. Standing crops in many areas are also suffering from the deluge.

Onion Production Trends in Maharashtra

Onion cultivation in Maharashtra has been on a growing trend in recent years. In 2022-23, it was on 5,53,212 hectares, rising to 6,51,965 hectares in 2024-25. Nashik, the largest onion-producing region in the country, saw a substantial increase in cultivation area as well.

Impact of Exports on Onion Prices

Despite government bans on onion exports since 2019, exports have remained robust, contributing significantly to India’s foreign exchange earnings. However, the sudden surge in exports can sometimes lead to a price spike in the domestic market, impacting consumers and farmers alike.

Call for Government Intervention

Bharat Dighold, founder-president of the Maharashtra State Onion Producers Farmers Association, has called for government intervention to stabilize onion prices and ensure a sustainable future for the industry. He urged the government to make public the yearly output needed in the country to help farmers plan their cultivation accordingly.