Maharashtra’s onion farmers have been protesting since early September 2025 due to a steep and continuous decline in onion prices, which have dipped much below the cost of production. The protests indicate profound distress in one of India’s primary agricultural segments, underscored by calls for government intervention and compensation to protect farmers’ livelihoods.
The Price Crash and Its Impact
Maharashtra is one of the major onion-producing states, with well-known onion-producing districts being Nashik, Ahmednagar, Pune, and Solapur. In spite of producing huge quantities, farmers are now only getting ₹800-₹1,000 per quintal, whereas the average cost of production is between ₹2,200 to ₹2,500 per quintal. This huge difference between cost and selling price compels farmers into distress sale, and it becomes difficult to even meet the basic expenses.
Prices collapsed because of a mix of reasons:
- Domestic market oversupply coupled with the poor quality of Rabi crop onions in storage.
- Release of buffer stocks by government agencies such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) at subsidized prices, further depressing market prices.
- Declining export prospects, with major buyers like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka curtailing import quantities, leading India’s exports to plummet from 25.25 lakh tons in 2022-23 to a mere 11.47 lakh tons in 2024-25.
Farmers’ Demands
The agitating farmers demand immediate government intervention, including:
- Minimum support price of ₹1,500 per quintal to offset their losses.
- Immediate stoppage and examination of buffer stock sales policies to keep prices stable.
- A consistent and stable export policy to regain confidence among foreign buyers and restore lost markets.
- Increased accountability and transparency in government procurement procedures to prevent irregularities and monetary loss to farmers.
Political and Social Context
Farmers complain of neglect by the government, stating that numerous protests have gone unnoticed or been preceded by empty assurances from political authorities. Various farmer organizations have complained about being left out of important deliberations, including a top-level meeting called by the Maharashtra agriculture minister. The voices calling for justice have also been echoed by eminent leaders such as Sharad Pawar, who emphasized the need to address the crisis immediately to prevent further unrest.
Certain protests have been symbolic in nature, e.g., farmers coating slogans on their bulls to create public awareness of the distress resulting from opaque procurement.
Wider Issues in Onion Cultivation
Maharashtra’s onion crisis reflects systemic problems in India’s onion industry:
- Price fluctuations caused by surplus production and inadequate storage facilities.
- Policy u-turns regarding exports and buffer stock management causing market uncertainty.
- High production costs induced by costly fertilizers, seeds, and labor.
- Better cold storage facilities and farmer cooperatives being required to increase collective bargaining power.[4]
Conclusion
Maharashtra’s onion farmers are demonstrating to highlight the urgent need for structural reforms in pricing, procurement, export policy, and infrastructure. Without effective government intervention and clear policies, farmers risk continuing to face severe financial stress amid volatile markets. The current protests underscore the critical importance of balancing consumer interests with farmer welfare to sustain India’s agricultural backbone and food security.
