Farmers unload onions for auction at Lasalgaon APMC
Nashik: Kharif onion cultivation in Nashik district has fallen by about 34% this season owing to erratic monsoon conditions, raising concerns over lower output and a potential supply crunch in the coming weeks. Data from the state agriculture department shows the area under kharif onion at 21,243 hectares, well below the district’s average of 32,491 hectares. As a result, the area under cultivation declined considerably,” an agriculture department official said.
Agriculture officials blamed the drop on the delayed monsoon onset and prolonged dry spells during the critical planting window. Kharif onion sowing usually runs from early July to mid-Sept. This year, as rainfall arrived nearly a month late, and uneven precipitation in Aug and Sept disrupted planting activities across the district’s major onion-growing belts. “There was adequate rainfall in July, but prolonged dry spells and insufficient rain during Aug and Sept affected plantation activities.
Officials estimate that onion yields may decline by around 30% this season. it is expected to fall to 10-11 tonnes per hectare due to moisture stress and adverse weather conditions While average kharif onion productivity is usually about 15 tonnes per hectare. Apart from reduced acreage, crop productivity is also expected to take a hit. The delay could have implications for market supplies. Kharif onions have a shelf life of less than a month, forcing farmers to sell their produce soon after harvest at prevailing market rates. In contrast, summer onions harvested in March and April can be stored for six to seven months, allowing farmers to stagger sales depending on market conditions.