Archive · 29 Jul 2026
Rayalaseema Onion Crop Shrinks, Prices Surge
In the Rayalaseema region of India, farmers grow onions on a lot of land.
This year, the rain was very weak, so farmers could not plant as many onions.
Because of this, the amount of onions grown fell from 21,000 acres to less than 2,100 acres.
Traders had to bring onions from other states like Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The price of onions in local markets went up from about Rs 25 to Rs 40–50 per kilogram, and farmers worry it could rise even more if the rain does not improve.
Onion cultivation in Rayalaseema dropped from 21,000 acres to less than 2,100 acres due to poor rainfall linked to El Niño.
Kurnool district, a major onion hub, may produce less than 1 lakh tonnes, down from 7.5 lakh tonnes last year.
Traders are importing onions from Maharashtra and Gujarat, with wholesale prices around Rs 2,400 per quintal.
Retail onion prices have risen to Rs 40–50 per kg, up from Rs 25 a month and a half ago.
Farmers report no water for nurseries and are not planting, warning that continued drought could further spike prices.
- Who
- Onion farmers, traders, and market observers in Rayalaseema
- What
- Sharp decline in onion cultivation and rising prices
- When
- This Kharif season
- Where
- Rayalaseema region, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Why
- Poor rainfall due to El Niño causing drought-like conditions
- Region affected
- Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Cultivation area drop
- 21,000 acres to <2,100 acres
- Price increase
- Rs 40–50 per kg from Rs 25
- Imported onions
- Maharashtra and Gujarat
- Wholesale price
- Rs 2,400 per quintal