Onion Prices Crash to Around ₹500 per Quintal in Maharashtra, Bhujbal Seeks Subsidy for Farmers

Onion farmers in Nashik and other parts of Maharashtra are struggling with sharply lower prices. State food minister Chhagan Bhujbal has written to the chief minister seeking a special subsidy and policy clarity to ease their distress

Nashik | 27 February, 2026: Onion prices in Maharashtra have fallen steeply, with wholesale rates dropping to around ₹500 per quintal in key markets, putting significant financial pressure on farmers who invested far more to grow the crop. State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Chhagan Bhujbal highlighted the crisis in a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging a subsidy of ₹500 per quintal to provide relief to growers.

Bhujbal said that while onion prices were stable at about ₹1,000 per quintal in January, they have since collapsed, leaving many farmers unable to cover production costs estimated at around ₹1,500 per quintal. He pointed to the volatility in the market and unfavourable export policies as key factors exacerbating the situation. The minister also called for a minimum support price (MSP) framework for onions similar to other major crops, and clearer long-term policies on export and import.

The price crash has triggered unrest among growers, including protests and hunger strikes by farmers at market yards in Nashik district demanding fair compensation, support and market interventions. They have pressed for guaranteed prices, subsidies and better logistics support for exports to cushion the impact of sharp price fluctuations.

With Maharashtra contributing nearly 60 per cent of India’s onion production, the crisis has broader implications for the state’s agricultural economy. Farmers and leaders are watching closely for government action that could stabilise prices and provide much-needed financial relief.

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