Rain Spoils Half of Stored Onions in Pune’s Junnar & Shirur, Farmers Suffer Heavy Losses

Unseasonal and continuous rainfall in Pune district has created a crisis for onion farmers in Junnar and Shirur. Nearly half of the stored onions in local warehouses have been spoiled due to water seepage and humidity. Farmers who had stored onions to sell at better prices later are now facing massive financial losses, pushing many into distress.

The onion belts of Junnar and Shirur are considered among the most productive regions in Maharashtra. Farmers had worked hard to harvest and store onions in traditional kanda chawls (storage sheds). However, unexpected rains in September damaged storage conditions, leading to rapid rotting of the produce. Reports suggest that close to 50% of stored onions are no longer fit for sale.

Traders and farmer groups have raised concerns that this damage will not only affect individual farmers but also disrupt the market supply chain. With nearly half the stock gone, onion prices may rise sharply in the coming weeks. Consumers may face higher retail prices while farmers struggle to recover even their input costs.

Local farmer leaders have demanded that the Maharashtra government intervene quickly and announce relief measures. They are urging compensation under crop loss and disaster relief funds. Many farmers in Junnar and Shirur had taken loans to manage their crops, and the unexpected losses have deepened their debt burden.

Agriculture experts warn that unseasonal rainfall events are becoming more frequent due to climate change. They emphasize the urgent need for modern storage infrastructure that can withstand weather fluctuations. Unless long-term solutions are introduced, farmers in onion belts will continue to face such recurring crises, threatening both their livelihoods and the stability of essential food supply.