Senior Maharashtra ministers, including Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, plan to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to address the ongoing onion export ban imposed by the central government on December 8. The ban has led to a significant drop in onion prices in Maharashtra’s wholesale markets. Onion, previously trading at Rs 3,500-3,300/100 kgs, now hovers at Rs 2,100-2,000/100 kgs. The fate of over 400 containers remains uncertain. Some ministers express skepticism about a prompt solution, citing political considerations leading up to the 2024 Loksabha elections. The upcoming summer crop rabi is expected to be lower due to moisture stress and crop loss from unseasonal rains during harvest.
