02 June,2026 02:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Demonstrators, many of whom wore garlands made of onions, raised slogans against the government and demanded a higher procurement rate. Pic/X
The onion crisis in Maharashtra escalated on Tuesday as hundreds of farmers blocked the Pune-Nashik Highway, protesting against the procurement price announced by the Centre for Rabi onions.
The agitation was organised under the banner of the Kanda Utpadak Shetkari Sarvapakshiya Mahamorcha after the Union government fixed the Minimum Assured Procurement Price (MAPP) for Rabi onions in Nashik district at Rs 1,580 per quintal with effect from May 26.
Protesting farmers claimed that the procurement price was below the cost of cultivation and argued that onion growers were facing mounting financial losses.
Demonstrators, many of whom wore garlands made of onions, raised slogans against the government and demanded a higher procurement rate. They also called for increased government intervention to support onion farmers affected by falling market prices.
The protest led to traffic disruptions on the Pune-Nashik Highway before police intervened and detained several farmer leaders and members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), including NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar.
In a post on X, Pawar said the protest was aimed at pressing the government to procure onions at a guaranteed price of Rs 25 per kg, provide a subsidy of Rs 15-20 per kg for onions already sold by farmers, and increase procurement volumes.
According to him, farmers are demanding that the government procure between 8 lakh and 10 lakh tonnes of onions instead of the proposed 2 lakh tonnes to ensure fair compensation for growers.
Pawar also alleged that the administration had created obstacles to prevent farmers and political leaders from reaching the protest venue. Despite these measures, he claimed that a large number of farmers participated in the demonstration.
The NCP leader said the protest was attended by several opposition leaders and representatives of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, including state Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal, NCP (Sharad Pawar) state president Shashikant Shinde, Member of Parliament Nilesh Lanke, MLA Bapu Pathare, former MLA Ashok Pawar, Atul Benke and other party office-bearers.
Pawar said the agitation would continue until the government addresses the concerns of onion growers and accepts their key demands. He urged the government to take note of the growing dissatisfaction among farmers and provide relief measures to the sector.
