Across Maharashtra, relentless rains have devastated a wide range of crops, including onions, tomatoes, potatoes, pomegranates, custard apples, and soyabean. The resulting lack of cash among farmers is impacting rural markets, especially during the Diwali season, with locals unable to buy even basic festive items like diyas.
Onion Prices Crash in Key Markets
In Lasalgaon APMC, Asia’s largest onion market, prices range from Rs 500 to Rs 1,400 per quintal. Though a bumper crop was harvested earlier this year, storage by farmers hoping for higher prices combined with recent heavy rains has left 80% of the Nashik region onion crop damaged. The remaining stock is low quality and selling at extremely low prices.
Sudam Ingle’s earnings reflect this reality: 393 kg sold at Rs 3 per kg, 202 kg at Rs 2 per kg, and 146 kg at Rs 10 per kg, after deducting Rs 1,065 for loading, weighing, and transport. “Being a farmer means a life of struggles,” he said.
Other Crops Hit Hard
Manikrao Zende, cultivating custard apple, pomegranate, and onions, reported heavy losses. Pomegranate plants worth Rs 1.5 lakh were ruined, while custard apple saplings worth Rs 1 lakh had to be sold at Rs 50,000. Zende blamed government inaction, highlighting the absence of official panchnama assessments of affected fields.
Traders like Manik Gore from Chakan APMC report that soyabean, old stocks of toor dal, and chana are also suffering due to rains and poor market prices. Flooding from produce in other states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat further depresses local market rates.
Government Policies and Farmer Distress
Experts and farmers alike point to policy failures as aggravating factors. Previous export bans and delayed interventions have cost farmers lucrative market opportunities. Even high-quality crops fetch inadequate returns, leaving farmers with little purchasing power for necessities and festival spending.
“When farmer families have no money, youth unemployment rises, creating conditions for crime. The day farmers get fair prices, crime will decline,” Zende warned, linking financial distress to social issues.
With Diwali approaching, Maharashtra’s agricultural sector faces a bleak outlook. Farmers hope for government procurement.
