Onion farmers across Madhya Pradesh are facing a severe financial crisis as wholesale prices have plummeted to as low as ₹1–₹2 per kilogram in local mandis, leaving cultivators unable to recover even their production costs. The crash has sparked panic and outrage among farmers, who are urging immediate government action to prevent further distress.
Farmers Struggle to Cover Basic Costs
In key onion-producing districts such as Mandsaur, Ratlam, and Neemuch, farmers report that the market price of onions has fallen below even basic transport and labour expenses.
Farmer Babbu Malvi of Panth Piploda, Mandsaur, shared his plight:
“I grow 6–7 quintals of onions per bigha, but at ₹1.99 per kilo, I cannot even recover the cost of seeds and fertilisers. Farming is becoming unviable.”
He explained that most farmers are in debt after investing heavily in inputs like fertilisers, irrigation, and fuel, and the sharp price drop has left them unable to repay loans or sustain their families.
‘Better to Feed Onions to Cattle,’ Say Frustrated Farmers
The frustration among cultivators is palpable. Bhopal Singh Sisodia from Barkheda village revealed that he had to sell seven quintals of onions for just ₹1.70 per kg at the Mandsaur mandi.
“After paying for labour and transport, there is nothing left. It’s better to feed onions to livestock than to sell them for such losses,” he said bitterly.
Farmers across Madhya Pradesh echo similar sentiments, calling this year’s prices the worst in over a decade. Many fear that continued apathy from the authorities will push smallholders into insolvency.
Congress Slams Government Over Farmer Neglect
The Congress Party has seized upon the crisis, accusing both the central and state governments of ignoring the suffering of onion farmers. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the party posted pictures from Ratlam agricultural mandi, showing farmers forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices.
In a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders reminded the public of his 2016 promise to double farmers’ income by 2022.
“Instead of prosperity, farmers are being coerced to sell onions at prices that destroy their livelihoods,” Congress stated, demanding minimum support price (MSP) intervention and compensation.
Market Oversupply and Policy Inaction Worsen the Crisis
Experts attribute the onion price crash to overproduction and the lack of government procurement mechanisms in Madhya Pradesh. While bumper harvests have flooded the markets, the absence of effective price stabilization measures has left farmers at the mercy of traders.
Agricultural economist Dr. R.K. Tiwari noted, “When supply exceeds market absorption and the government fails to intervene, farmers bear the brunt. A procurement buffer or export facilitation policy could prevent such collapses.”
Farmers Demand Immediate Relief Measures
Farmer unions have now called for urgent intervention from the Madhya Pradesh government and the Union Agriculture Ministry. Their key demands include:
-
Announcement of a minimum support price for onions.
-
Compensation for farmers who sold below cost.
-
Subsidized transport and storage facilities to prevent distress sales.
-
Export promotion to absorb surplus production.
Many farmers have also urged Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to visit the affected regions and take direct cognizance of the crisis.
Rural Economy on the Brink
The onion price collapse has broader implications for the rural economy, which heavily depends on crop income. With low prices for multiple commodities and rising input costs, the situation has turned grim.
Analysts warn that unless swift action is taken, the distress could escalate into mass defaults, migration, and unrest in agricultural regions of Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states.
A Call for Action
As the crisis deepens, farmers across the state continue to gather at mandis and block roads in protest, calling for “justice for the onion grower.”
The state’s response in the coming days will determine not just the fate of thousands of onion farmers but also the credibility of government promises to protect India’s agricultural backbone.