Maharashtra is set to expand its onion export footprint, with more than one lakh tonnes of onions from Nashik and Ahmednagar districts expected to be shipped to Mauritius, State Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal informed the Legislative Council on Tuesday.
Replying to a question by MLC Sachin Ahir on the hunger strike by onion farmers in Chandwad, Rawal said the move is part of efforts to identify new export destinations as traditional markets face rising competition.
The minister noted that Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, once major markets for Indian onions, have ramped up domestic production in recent years, intensifying competition in the global onion trade. Against this backdrop, exploring newer markets such as Mauritius has become necessary, he said.
Maharashtra continues to dominate India’s onion exports, accounting for around 80 per cent of the country’s total shipments. Within the State, Nashik district contributes nearly 70–80 per cent of Maharashtra’s onion exports.
Lasalgaon in Nashik — Asia’s largest onion market — serves as the key hub for onion trading and exports, playing a central role in the State’s supply chain.