Though the onions farmers are having a tough time due to the drop in prices of the produce in the wholesale markets acrossMaharashtra, the state has managed to improve its export figures for the first eight months of the financial year 2022-23.
As per thestate economic survey, Maharashtra has exported around 8 lakh tonne of onions between April and November of the current financial year, earning foreign currencies amounting to Rs 1,590 crore. The export from the state for the April-Nov period of the current fiscal is 40% more than the figures for the corresponding months of the last fiscal (2021-22).
The data assumes significance as the Opposition parties, during the ongoing session of the assembly, are constantly demanding Centre’s intervention to boost export of onions.
The state contributes around 50% of the country’s total onion export, while Nashik district contributes to around 80% of export from Maharashtra. The state had exported 5.78 tonne of onions during the 2021-22 fiscal, earning foreign currencies amounting to Rs 1,400 crore.
In the financial year 2020-21, the state exported 7.96 lakh tonne of onions, earning foreign currencies amounting to Rs 1,515 crore.