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Onion availability improves with higher Kharif acreage
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Friday, 09 October, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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India’s onion availability outlook has strengthened with higher Kharif acreage, favourable crop conditions, robust market arrivals and the commencement of fresh Kharif supplies from major producing States. The improving supply situation has also led to a broad-based moderation in onion prices across mandis and major consumer markets.
Fresh Kharif onion arrivals have begun from key producing States, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, while stored stocks continue to supplement market supplies. Arrivals from these regions are expected to increase in the coming weeks, supporting availability in consuming markets during the upcoming festive season.
The Kharif crop outlook remains encouraging, with all-India Kharif onion acreage estimated to be around 5 per cent higher than last year’s already strong level. Crop conditions across major producing regions remain favourable. The India Meteorological Department’s rainfall outlook during the harvesting period is also expected to support the crop, with no excessive rainfall forecast in key Kharif onion-growing areas in the coming weeks. This is likely to facilitate harvesting, drying and transportation while reducing the risk of moisture-related crop damage.
The strengthening supply position is reflected in mandi prices. Arrivals across key onion markets have remained robust, with the weighted average mandi price in Maharashtra declining by nearly 13 per cent, from around Rs 4,030 per quintal on September 16 to approximately Rs 3,475 per quintal on October 3.
The moderation has also extended to retail markets. As many as 126 cities have reported a decline of Rs 1–21 per kg in retail onion prices over the past two weeks. Prices have eased across major consuming States, including Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
The broad-based decline across geographically dispersed markets indicates that the improvement in supply is being felt beyond individual mandis and regions.
The Government is supplementing supplies to consuming centres through the release of onion buffer stocks. More than 2 lakh quintals have so far been disposed of through eight Kanda Express services and 467 trucks across 123 cities. Additional rail rakes are also being planned to move larger quantities of onions to high-consumption markets.
The supply distribution efforts are being strengthened ahead of the festive season, with additional rail movements planned to improve the speed and efficiency of onion transportation.
The combination of fresh Kharif arrivals, stored stocks and the continued movement of government buffer onions is providing multiple supply channels to consuming markets. The Government is monitoring arrivals, stocks and price movements and taking measures to support orderly distribution and adequate availability.
Overall, higher Kharif acreage, favourable crop conditions, supportive harvesting weather, robust arrivals and declining mandi and retail prices point to a comfortable onion supply outlook in the coming weeks. With fresh Kharif supplies expected to gather further momentum and government distribution efforts being strengthened ahead of the festive season, onion availability is expected to remain well supported, with prices likely to moderate further.
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