Onion Farmers Losses 2025 Continue as Prices Stay Below Cost of Production
According to data analysed by the Maharashtra State Onion Producer Farmers Organisation, onion farmers losses 2025 have reached alarming levels, with growers across the country forced to sell onions at prices far below their cost of production throughout the year.
The farmers’ organisation stated that while the cost of producing onions ranged between ₹22 and ₹25 per kg, the average market prices in 2025 hovered between ₹8 and ₹18 per kg, resulting in continuous financial losses for growers.
Onion Farmers Losses 2025 Trigger Debt and Financial Stress
Maharashtra State Onion Producer Farmers Organisation president Bharat Dighole said onion growers were compelled to sell their produce below cost for most of 2025, pushing many farmers into debt and financial distress.
Data from state market committees revealed that monthly average onion prices remained weak throughout the year. Prices averaged ₹20 per kg in January, ₹22 in February, dropped sharply to ₹14 in March, and crashed to ₹8 in April. Rates stayed low at ₹9 in May, ₹13 in June, ₹12 in July and August, ₹9 in September, ₹10 in October, and ₹12 in November. Prices slightly improved to ₹14–15 per kg in early December and around ₹18 per kg after mid-December, still below production costs.
With prices remaining unviable for most of the year, onion farmers losses 2025 continued to mount without relief.
Procurement Objections Add to Onion Farmers Losses 2025
Farmer groups pointed out that the crisis persisted despite adequate onion availability across the country. During 2025, the central government procured nearly three lakh tonnes of onions through NAFED and NCCF to build a buffer stock.
However, the organisation alleged that procurement was not done directly from farmers. Instead, onions were allegedly purchased through middlemen, contractors, and private agencies, sometimes involving substandard produce and paper transactions. Farmers claim these practices caused financial irregularities and benefited a limited group of intermediaries, worsening onion farmers losses 2025.
Buffer Stock Policy Blamed for Onion Farmers Losses 2025
Dighole further stated that onions released from the buffer stock were sold in domestic markets at very low prices, preventing any recovery in market rates during 2025. As a result, farmers were forced to continue selling at losses throughout the year.
Calling the buffer stock mechanism a policy failure, he said it appeared to favour middlemen rather than farmers. “Buffer stocks are meant to protect both farmers and consumers, but in 2025 the policy financially harmed onion growers,” he said.
Demand for Judicial Probe into Onion Farmers Losses 2025
The Maharashtra State Onion Producer Farmers Organisation has demanded a high-level judicial inquiry into the procurement and distribution of the 2025 onion buffer stock. The association also sought an immediate financial audit of all agencies involved in procurement for NAFED and NCCF, along with criminal action against officials, contractors, and middlemen found guilty of wrongdoing.
The organisation warned that if their demands are ignored, farmers may resort to statewide closure of market committees, protests at NAFED and NCCF offices, and a nationwide agitation reaching Delhi.
