Drought damages 62,985 hectares of onion crop in Karnataka; prices remain high
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Prices are reportedly unlikely to come down until fresh onion stocks from the recent kharif crop in Karnataka reach the market. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
The price of onion, a staple in many kitchens, continues to remain high even as the Karnataka State Department of Horticulture (KSDH) has recorded onion crop losses in more than 60,000 hectares across 124 taluks due to severe drought.
While onions are being sold at ₹50-55 a kg in the wholesale market, retail prices range between ₹65 and ₹70 a kg.
A KSDH official said: “For the 2026-27 kharif season, onion sowing has been completed in 1,41,256 hectares against a target of 1,50,000 hectares. In the current year, 124 taluks have been declared drought-affected. A joint survey by KSDH and the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) indicates that 62,985 hectares of onion crop have suffered damage exceeding 50%. An additional 53 taluks were declared drought-affected on September 22, and the extent of onion crop damage may increase. The joint survey process is currently under way in these 53 taluks.”
The official added: “The area covered under sowing in the kharif season is 94%, which is 6% lower than last year. Though the sowing percentage is good, we cannot expect a good yield, the obvious reason being the failure of rains. Onion prices may increase further due to crop failure and rising demand. Karnataka markets receive onions mainly from Maharashtra when there is no local yield in the State.”
Meanwhile, Chamarasa Malipatil, honorary president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), said: “Onion is mainly cultivated in Vijayapura, Bagalkote and Chitradurga districts and in some parts of south Karnataka. Onion requires sufficient water for cultivation. In black soil, farmers need to irrigate it once in 20 days to retain moisture, while in red soil, water should be provided once every 10 days.”
Mr. Malipatil added: “For the past three years, onion prices were too low and farmers did not make profits. Prices were around ₹400-500 a quintal, or ₹10-15 a kg. As returns remained poor, some farmers in north Karnataka gave up onion cultivation altogether.”
B.R. Raghu, Senior Scientist at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, explained: “A major share of onion cultivation in Karnataka takes place during the kharif season because the crop can be grown well in rain-fed areas. Sowing begins in May and harvesting takes place in September and October. This year, arrivals may be delayed due to poor rainfall and crop failure. A good kharif harvest in Karnataka is crucial for onion price stability across India.”
“Of the total onion cultivation area in India, only about 30% is under the kharif crop, concentrated largely in Karnataka, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Nashik in Maharashtra. The remaining 70% falls under the rabi season and is cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan and Bihar,” he said.
Mr. Raghu added that onions harvested during the rabi season in May are purchased by corporate firms and traders, stored, and released into the market during periods of high demand in October and November.
B. Ravi Shankar, of the Onion Merchants’ Association of Bengaluru, said that although the Union government released onion stocks through the Kanda Express scheme at ₹35 a kg to stabilise prices, the move had little impact on wholesale or retail prices in Karnataka. “They should have taken this step much before the price rise. Besides, Karnataka receives onions mainly from Maharashtra and the supply chain involves several stakeholders before the produce reaches consumers. Apart from weather conditions, storage, transportation and labour costs also play an important role in pushing up prices,” he said.
He added: “Prices are unlikely to come down until fresh onion stocks from the recent kharif crop in Karnataka reach the market. However, even that cannot be assured.”
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