Reports from Nashik suggest that almost 20 percent of the saved onions have actually currently decomposed. Those who are bringing onions to market are getting a typical rate of 1,263 per tonne, far lower than the 3,078 per tonne farmers brought in August 2024.|Image Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
The Maharashtra State Onion Producer Farmers’ Organisation has actually implicated the federal government of intentionally reducing onion rates in wholesale and retail markets to get political benefit ahead of the civic surveys in the State and the assembly elections in Bihar. Farmer leaders caution that such policies are triggering heavy losses to growers and might set off State-wide agitation.
Bharat Dighole, president of the organisation, declared that the federal government is making every possible effort to guarantee that onion rates stay low to keep customers pleased. “These relocations might assist customers in the short-term, however they are devastating for farmers who have actually currently invested greatly in onion growing. We are preparing to release demonstrations versus the federal government’s anti-farmer position,” Dighole stated. He likewise criticised what he called the federal government’s “irregular policies,” which have actually destabilised the onion market and intensified the crisis for growers.
According to farmers, Maharashtra had actually produced about 163 lakh tonnes of summertime (rabi) onions in the last season, with Nashik district alone representing almost 80 percent of this production. Because May, farmers have actually been launching saved onions into the marketplace. In spite of massive arrivals, almost 40 lakh tonnes of onions are still lying in storage centers (in your area understood as chawls). Farmers state they are awaiting much better costs, however the extended storage has actually led to enormous wasting.
20% of kept onions rot
Reports from Nashik show that almost 20 percent of the kept onions have actually currently decayed. Those who are bringing onions to market are getting a typical cost of 1,263 per tonne, far lower than the 3,078 per tonne farmers brought in August 2024. Efficiently, farmers are costing nearly 60 percent less than in 2015, leaving them not able to recuperate even standard growing and storage expenses.
Some growers, nevertheless, are holding out hope of a healing. Heavy rains in Karnataka have actually ruined and harmed a considerable amount of onions, raising expectations that decreased supply from the southern State might enhance rates in Maharashtra in the coming weeks.
Farmer organisations in Maharashtra have actually chosen to magnify their lobbying efforts. They prepare to satisfy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in addition to senior authorities of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to require federal government intervention. Farmers desire procurement at reasonable costs and steps to avoid distress sales throughout the election season.
Released on August 29, 2025
