Onion prices at the Chakan market in Pune district are fluctuating as drought conditions reduce cultivation and the arrival of the new crop is delayed by one to two months. Around 1,000 quintals of onions arrived at the Khed Agricultural Produce Market Committee premises, where prices ranged from Rs 35 to Rs 43 per kg depending on quality, market committee officials said.
The figures were provided by market committee chairman Ashok Rakshe and secretary Balasaheb Dhandre. The market is currently relying largely on stored old onions because the new crop has not yet arrived in significant quantities.
According to the report, inadequate rainfall in June and July has sharply affected onion cultivation across Maharashtra. Farmers have estimated that the area under onion cultivation could remain limited to just 10% to 20% of the usual area because of water shortages. The new crop is expected to reach markets between November and January, although the timing will depend on cultivation and growing conditions.
The supply situation is also being influenced by arrivals from Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. New onions from these states are reaching Delhi and other major markets, contributing to a fall in prices at the local level even as supply remains uncertain in Maharashtra.
The volatility has created concern among onion growers and traders. Farmers had expected stronger prices at the beginning of the winter season, but demand, the quantity of stored onions and arrivals from other states are causing prices to move unpredictably. Production, transportation and storage costs are also making it difficult for growers to balance their expenses against market returns.
Traders Manik Gore and Vikram Shinde said prices could rise in the future because drought conditions may reduce supply. However, the current market remains dependent on the sale of stored onions, leaving prices exposed to changes in arrivals and demand.
The impact is already visible in retail markets. While wholesale prices at Chakan are fluctuating, onions are being sold to consumers at Rs 50 to Rs 70 per kg. Even small-sized onions, locally referred to as chingli onions, have reached around Rs 50 per kg, placing additional pressure on household and worker budgets.
Producers have called on the government to review market conditions and take measures to ensure farmers receive remunerative prices. The next major market shift is expected with the arrival of the new crop between November and January, when supply levels will determine whether the current price volatility eases or intensifies.
