Onion Crisis: Around 30% of the 1.2 lakh tonnes of summer onions purchased this year have already been lost due to rotting and sprouting, raising concerns over onion supplies and prices in the coming months.
Amid the growing concern, the Centre’s Kanda Express carrying 500 tonnes of onions left Lasalgaon for Delhi at around 3:30 pm on Wednesday. A senior NAFED official said the situation has worsened mainly because of unseasonal rain during the harvesting season, which damaged onion quality, reduced shelf life and made long-term storage difficult.
Normally, around 20% of stored onions are lost each year, but officials fear losses could reach 40% this year.
Kanda Express Leaves for Delhi
The onion train was originally scheduled to leave on Tuesday but was delayed by nearly 24 hours because of grading and sorting work.
Lasalgaon station manager Preetish Dubey said the train was carrying about 500 tonnes of onions and was expected to reach Delhi within 24 hours.
The Centre launched the special rail service after onion retail prices in several cities rose to ₹50–65 per kg. Besides rail transport, government agencies NAFED and NCCF are also sending onions to Delhi by road.
NAFED sent 30 tonnes by truck on Tuesday night, while NCCF dispatched another 30-tonne consignment on Wednesday evening. Similar onion trains are being planned for Kolkata and Chennai to improve supplies in high-consumption markets and control price increases.
Under the Kanda Express initiative, onions brought to Delhi will be sold at a subsidised price of ₹35 per kg through NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar outlets. The government also plans to transport onions by rail to Chennai, Ernakulam, Madurai and Guwahati.
Government Onion Buffer Stock Under Pressure
The Centre had set a target of purchasing 2 lakh tonnes of summer onions, but NAFED and NCCF managed to procure only 1.20 lakh tonnes.
More than 90% of this year’s buffer stock is expected to come from the Nashik region, which normally accounts for more than 80% of total procurement.
According to a NAFED official, onions stored by farmers are also being depleted quickly, while around 30% of the government-procured crop has already spoiled or sprouted.
Farmers normally begin releasing their stored onions from September. However, this year many started selling their stocks in June and July to avoid losses from spoilage.
Onion Stocks in Nashik Falling
Agriculture officials said farmers were also attracted to wholesale markets because they offered better prices than government procurement agencies.
Nashik, India’s largest onion-producing region, has storage capacity for around 24 lakh tonnes of onions. However, farmers are estimated to have only about 25% of their total stored stock remaining in their own warehouses.
Officials have warned that continued spoilage and shorter shelf life could cause existing stocks to run out before the next major crop arrives.
Delayed Kharif Onion Crop Raises Supply Concerns
The situation could worsen because the kharif onion crop is being delayed due to inadequate rainfall during the sowing season.
Nashik district normally has around 30,000 hectares under kharif onion cultivation. So far, planting has been completed on only 370 hectares, or roughly 1% of the normal area. At this stage of the season, around half of the planting work is usually completed.
The new kharif onion crop is now expected to reach markets only by mid-November, while regular arrivals are likely to begin from early December. This has raised concerns about a potential supply shortage in October.
Agriculture officials warned that if existing stocks continue to decline at the current pace, onion shortages could emerge in Nashik during September and October.
Next Five Months Crucial for Onion Supply
Markets are currently relying heavily on onions harvested during March and April. These summer onions generally have a six-to-seven-month shelf life and are stored by farmers for gradual sale throughout the year.
An agriculture department official said there is unlikely to be any significant fresh onion crop before the kharif harvest arrives. Until then, stored onions will remain the main source of supply for wholesale and retail markets.
Traders have warned that if higher-than-normal spoilage or premature depletion disrupts the existing storage cycle, supplies could tighten further. This could put additional pressure on onion prices in the coming months, making the period until the next major kharif arrivals particularly important for the market.
