03 June,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana Dahiwal
Yeola’s onion farmers (from left) Ankita Khillare, Rajendra Shinde, Sharad Khillare, and Yogita Khillare hold rotten produce. PICS/By SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
A severe heatwave has triggered widespread spoilage of stored onion stocks across Nashik district, forcing farmers to dump produce worth lakhs of rupees. Already reeling from low market prices, onion growers are now facing a double blow of climate-induced losses and poor returns, deepening distress across Maharashtra's onion belt.
Farmers who held back produce hoping for better prices are now watching thousands of quintals rot in storage sheds. The mounting losses triggered fresh protests and demands for government relief.
In several villages of Yeola taluka and other parts of Nashik district, farmers who stored onions in anticipation of improved market prices are now being forced to dump large quantities of rotten produce.
Among the affected farmers is the Khillare family of Paregaon village in Yeola. Sharad Rambhau Khillare, Yogita Sharad Khillare, and Babasaheb Rambhau Khillare cultivated onions on three acres of land, investing nearly Rs 50,000 per acre.
Like many growers in the region, the family decided to store its harvest rather than sell after market prices fell sharply following the harvest season. "We kept the onions in storage, hoping that prices would improve and help us recover our expenses. Instead, the crop started rotting. Months of hard work have gone to waste," said Sharad Khillare.
On Tuesday, farmers held a protest on the Pune-Nashik highway under the guidance of Opposition leaders. NCP-SP leader Rohit Pawar said, "Onion farmers are demanding a guaranteed price of '25 per kg of produce, a subsidy of '15-20 per kg already sold at distress prices, and an increase in government procurement from the proposed two lakh tonnes to eight to 10 lakh tonnes."
The massive protest held by farmers and politicians on the Pune-Nashik highway on Tuesday
Pawar said growers resorted to a road blockade to press the government to address their long-pending demands. He alleged that the administration had erected barriers at several locations to prevent farmers and leaders from reaching the protest site. But, despite these obstacles, farmers arrived in large numbers in a show of strength. "The government's attempts to stop the agitation failed as farmers, pushed to the limits by injustice and mounting losses, overcame every hurdle and gathered in large numbers to demand justice," Pawar said.
Nearly five tractor-loads of stored onions grown by the Khillares, estimated at around 125 quintals, have deteriorated and become unfit for sale. "Every onion represents the labour of an entire family. We invested money, time and effort throughout the season. It is painful to watch the produce being thrown away," said Yogita Khillare. "Farmers are trapped from both sides. When prices crash, we cannot sell. When we wait for better rates, the crop gets damaged. In both situations, the farmer bears the loss," said Babasaheb Khillare.
According to growers, onion cultivation costs range between '50,000 and '55,000 per acre, while prevailing market prices are '200 to'900 per quintal. As a result, farmers are struggling to recover even their basic investment, and their growing distress has sparked fresh protests across the region. On Tuesday, farmers intensified their agitation by blocking the Pune-Nashik Highway in Ambegaon, demanding remunerative prices, compensation for damaged stocks, and immediate government intervention.
Farmer organisations have called for a district-wide assessment of losses caused by the heatwave and sought financial assistance for affected growers. They have also urged the government to strengthen onion storage infrastructure and introduce measures to protect farmers from recurring losses caused by market fluctuations and extreme weather. Growers warned that the crisis had become a widespread challenge threatening the economic stability of thousands of farming families.
