Onion Production In India. Top States And Varieties Grown
- Aman Mahajan
- Feb 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 20
Onion is another such agricultural product that India produces in large quantities. India has been consistently ranking among the top onion producers globally alongside countries like China, Egypt, the United States, Turkey, etc.
Favourable agro-climatic conditions, diverse soil types, and multiple growing seasons allow onions to be cultivated across the country throughout the year(i.e, Rabi, Kharif and late Kharif).
Several Indian states play a major role in driving this high level of onion production, with states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Gujarat being among the largest onion-producing states in India.
Other states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana also
contribute to the country’s overall onion production.
However, despite being one of the largest producers, onion exports from India fluctuate due to various export restrictions that are aimed at stabilizing the local market.
In this blog, we will explore the major onion-producing states in India, the varieties grown, and the key regions contributing to production across the country.
India’s Onion Production Stats
Let's take a look at how the onion production has been in India in recent times. The data below is released by PIB.
India’s onion production has seen a steady decline, dropping from around 316 million tonnes in 2021–22 to about 242 million tonnes in 2023–24. This fall is mainly due to lower output from major producing states. Since a few states contribute a large share of total production, even small disruptions there impact national figures significantly.
Maharashtra’s Onion Production fell due to unseasonal rains, farmers reducing onion acreage because of unstable prices, rising input costs and crop damage in key regions like Nashik and Ahmednagar.
Meanwhile, states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh also saw production drops due to weather irregularities and reduced sowing areas.
States such as Rajasthan and Bihar remained relatively stable as their production is spread across smaller regions and depends less on export-driven demand.
Top 5 Onion Producing States In India And Varieties Grown
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is the top-most & the highest onion-producing state in India, accounting for around 40% of India’s total onion production. The state leads in onion exports, too.
Key onion producing regions in Maharashtra
Onion cultivation in Maharashtra is mainly done in districts such as Nashik, Satara, Jalgaon, Pune, Solapur, and Ahmednagar, which together dominate the state’s production area.
Nashik acts as the main hub, which also recorded the highest acreage under onion cultivation for ten years. Lasalgaon, which is located in the Niphad taluka of Nashik, is Asia’s largest onion market.
Onion varieties grown in Maharashtra
The popular onion varieties cultivated across Maharashtra include Nasik Red (N-53), Gulmohar, Royal Selection, and Laxmi Diamond Super.
The Lasalgaon onion, also called Niphad Red or Nashik Red, holds GI status and is valued for its light red colour, larger bulbs, and strong pungent flavour.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh is the second-largest onion-producing state in India and has been producing onions in large numbers continuously over the years.
Major Growing areas/ districts:
Malwa, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam, Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, and Shajapur are the key onion-producing zones in Madhya Pradesh.
Major onion varieties grown in Madhya Pradesh
The main varieties of onion grown in Madhya Pradesh include: Agrifound dark red, Agrifound light red, Nashik red, and Agrifound white.
Gujarat
The main onion-growing regions of Gujarat include: Bhavnagar, Amreli, Rajkot, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Kutch, Porbandar, Dahod, Surendranagar, Anand, and Mehsana.
The main varieties of onion that are grown in Gujarat include:
Gujarat White Onion
Bhima Shubhra
Talaja Local
Junagadh Local
Agri Found Light Red
Agri Found Dark Red
Bhima Super
Bhima Shweta
Junagadh White Onion
Karnataka
Karnataka has been consistently ranking among the top 5 onion-producing states in India.
The key regions where onions are grown in Karnataka include:
Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Chitradurga, Gadag, Ballari, and Haveri
The popular varieties of onions you can find in Karnataka include :
Bangalore Rose onion
Bhima Series :
Bhima Red
Bhima Raj
Bhima Super
Bhima Kiran
Bhima Shakti
Bhima Shweta
Bhima Shubra
Arka Series:
Arka Niketan
Arka Kalyan
Akra Pragati
Arka Bindu
Other specialised varieties:
Agri found rose
Agrifound Light Red
Rajasthan
Rajasthan is a state that has a humid climate and faces a scarcity of water. Despite this, the state produces onions in large quantities and has developed varieties that are better suited for local conditions.
Where is onion produced in Rajasthan?
Sikar (Shekhawati region), Alwar, parts of Jaipur (Durgapura), Jhunjhunu, Fatehpur-Shekhawati (Nagaur area) are the main regions where onion is grown in Rajasthan.
The onion variety grown in Rajasthan includes:
The Rashidpura Onion(a local variety),
Agrifound Dark Red(a commercial variety)
RO-1, RO-59, RO-252(state developed specific varities)
Conclusion:
Onion production is a massive part of India’s agricultural landscape. More than half of the Indian states produce onions throughout the year. However, for importers looking to import or source onions from India, it is important for them to study the state-wise production regions and onion varieties to make better sourcing decisions and plan procurement more efficiently from India.
As an import-export company in India, we at Ashadhan can help you import onions, as we have a reliable network of onion producers across India. Get in touch today!
FAQs
What types and varieties of onions are produced in India?
The main types & varieties of onions produced in India include: Nashik Red onion, Bhima series(Shubhra, Super, Shweta), Agri Found series(dark, light red and white).
Which is the largest onion market in India?
The Lasalgaon in Nashik, Maharashtra, is the largest and most important onion cultivation hub in India.
Which is the best season to produce onions in India?
The Rabi season is the primary and most effective onion-producing season in India. Although onions are grown throughout the year, the ones grown in the rabi season tend to be better in size, quality and shelf life. However, one should note that the rabi season timing in India may vary by state. The rabi season for States like Maharashtra & Gujarat starts in October- November.