Onion prices in Maharashtra swing more than almost any other crop. Rates usually fall at kharif harvest when arrivals peak, and rise from February onward as stored stock runs down. Farmers who can store well often earn considerably more, but storage costs money and carries the risk of rot, so the decision depends on your shed, your cash needs and the trend in your own mandi.
Live mandi rates for Onion in Lasalgaon are updated every morning. Check today's rate →
Why onion rates move so much
Onion is a bulk crop with a short harvest window and a long consumption period. When kharif arrivals hit the mandis together, supply overwhelms demand for a few weeks and rates drop. As those arrivals stop and the market runs on stored stock, supply tightens and rates climb. On top of that, export policy and government stock releases can move the price sharply in either direction within days. This is why the same variety can fetch very different rates two months apart in the same market.
Lasalgaon sets the tone for the country
Lasalgaon in Nashik district is the largest onion market in India, and traders across the country watch its modal rate. If you are selling anywhere in Maharashtra, comparing your local mandi against Lasalgaon tells you whether your rate is fair or whether it is worth moving the load. Nearby Pimpalgaon and Yeola often move in step. Check all three before you commit to a price.
Reading the min, max and modal rate
Every mandi reports three numbers. The minimum is what the poorest lots fetched, the maximum is what the best lots fetched, and the modal is the rate most of the trade happened at. The modal is the one to plan against. A wide gap between minimum and maximum usually means quality is varying a lot that day, which is exactly when good grading pays off. If your produce is well sorted and dry, you should be closer to the maximum than the modal.
Storing versus selling at harvest
Storage only pays if three things hold. The bulbs must be properly cured before going into the shed. The shed must be ventilated, raised off the ground and stacked low enough for air to reach the middle. And you must be able to sort out damaged bulbs every couple of weeks. Get those right and losses stay in single digits; get them wrong and a third of the crop can rot. Weigh the expected price gain against both the storage loss and the cost of waiting for your money.
Selling direct to buyers
The mandi is not the only route. Traders, exporters and processors buy directly, and they often pay more for a consistent, graded lot they do not have to re-sort. On Mai Kisaan you can post what you have and let buyers approach you, which gives you a second price to compare against the mandi rate before you decide.
| Sell at harvest | Store and sell later | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Lowest point of the year | Usually higher from February |
| Money in hand | Immediate | Delayed by two to five months |
| Losses | Almost none | 8 to 40 percent depending on the shed |
| Extra cost | None | Curing, shed, labour for sorting |
| Risk | Low | Rot, sprouting, a price that does not rise |
Frequently asked questions
- How long can onions be stored?
- Properly cured onions in a ventilated structure keep for four to six months. Uncured onions in a closed room rarely last past two.
- Which mandi should I check for onion rates?
- Lasalgaon is the national benchmark. Also check your nearest market and one or two others within transport distance, so you know whether moving the load is worth the freight.
- Why did the rate drop suddenly this week?
- Sudden drops usually mean heavy arrivals, an export restriction, or a government stock release. Check whether the fall is local to your mandi or national before assuming it will last.
