States told to expand onion farm acreage

Patchy monsoon and extended dry spells lowered the onion cultivation area by nearly 96% on-year in Maharashtra

- Puja Das

The Centre has directed state governments to increase the rabi crop area for onion cultivation, after an erratic monsoon and extended dry spells hit production of the politically triggering vegetable, according to two senior officials. The development comes after India banned onion exports earlier this month to push supplies and check prices.

Though the price of onion is declining, the government doesn’t want to see prices move up due to short supply, one of the officials said.

On Monday, the all-India average retail price of onion was ₹55.8 a kg, a decrease of 6% on month but an eye-watering 112% rise on year, as per Consumer Affairs ministry data.