In a significant agricultural shift, North Maharashtra's summer onion cultivation has experienced a 40% decrease across its four districts: Nashik, Dhule, Nandurbar, and Jalgaon. Traditionally planted between November and January, with harvesting commencing in March, this year's cultivation concluded with a stark reduction in acreage. Specifically, Nashik, a major contributor to the region's onion production, scaled down to 126,000 hectares from the previous year's 221,000 hectares, contributing to an overall decrease from 250,000 hectares to 150,000 hectares across the region.
This downturn, attributed to inadequate monsoonal rainfall, has significant implications for both local farmers and the market. Summer onions, known for their extended shelf life of over six months, are typically stored by farmers to leverage better pricing. This strategic storage fulfills market demand during the May-October period, when fresh onion crops are scarce.
The state agriculture department corroborates this decline, underscoring the challenges posed by last year's insufficient rainfall.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com