Kharif crops 

Bajra, Rice and Jowar are the main kharif crops of Nashik district. Cotton and groundnuts are also grown here. Bajra is the main crop in the eastern parts, especially in Malegaon, Baglan, Yeola, Nandgaon and Chandwad talukas. Rice is mainly grown in the western parts of the district - Igatpuri, Peth, Nashik and Surgana talukas. Jowar is grown on a large scale in Malegaon, Nandgaon, Baglan, Chandwad and Kalvan talukas though it is common in other talukas also. This crop is grown on a large
scale in the Rabbi season as well. Groundnut is grown in all parts of the district but Malegaon, Baglan, Nandgaon and Kalwan talukas produce more of it. Cotton is produced by Malegaon, Baglan and Kalvan Talukas on a small scale. Besides these crops, several pulses like Udad (black gram), Moong (green gram) and Tur are grown here. 

Rabbi crops 

Jowar, wheat and gram are grown in the district during Rabbi season. Jowar is common in almost all the talukas. However, in Yeole, Dindori, Sinnar and Kalvan talukas, it is grown on a larger scale. Wheat is grown in Dindori, Niphad, Baglan, Yeola and Nashik talukas. Gram is grown in all the talukas. 

Irrigated crops: 

Nashik is known as 'Grape City'. Nashik district is known for certain irrigated crops like Sugarcane, Grapes Onions and other vegetables. Sugarcane is the main irrigated crop of the district. Niphad, Baglan, Yeola, Malegaon and Sinner talukas produce large quantities of sugarcane. 

Grapes : Nashik, Niphad, Dindori and Kalvan talukas have many vineyards. 

Onions is grown in plenty in Lasalgaon, Niphad, Nashik, Sinner and Malegaon areas. 

Vegetables : Brinjal, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Tomato, Cucumber, Carrot, Potato and Coriander are some of the vegetables grown in the district. 
 

Export Potential of Nashik Onions 

Production

India produces around 40 lakh metric tons (mts) of onion annually and is the 2nd largest onion  producer in the world , first being China. India doubled its production during the past two decades,  raising from the order of 20 lakh metric tons in 1974 - 75 to 40 lakh metric tons in 1994 - 95. The yield  per hectare has however remained static at 10.5 mts per hectare. That means the rise in production was due to coverage of more area in onion cultivation from the level of1.95 lakh hectares to 3.84 lakh hectares during 1994 - 95. It  is an indicator that earnings from onion production have increased over the years.

The share of Maharashtra in the production of onion is around 30% of the country’s production, producing around 12 lakh mts annually in recent years. In Maharashtra , Nashik district contributes 35 to 40 % of the state’s production.  The other major onion producing districts of Maharashtra are Pune, Ahmednagar, Satara, Sholapur and Dhulia. 

Exports

India’s onion export has made a gradual growth during the last four and half decades. In 1951-52 India exported a quantity  of 56,986 Mts valued at Rs. 10.67 crores. The export has for the first time crossed the half million  mts mark, during 1996-97, as the export went un to 5.15 lakh mts, valued at Rs. 332.27 crores, which is an increase by nine times over the  past 45 years. 
The export realization was an all time record at Rs. 7108 per metric ton during 1995-96. 

The study of the following figures of the exports from Mumbai Port makes an interesting assessment with regard to onion export from Nashik/ Pune region. 

Export of onion from Mumbai during 1994-95 to 1996-97
 

The onion harvested during October-December is Kharif crop, January-March is Rangada Crop and of April-May is called
Rabi or Unhal Crop. All the above harvested onion are available for export with Rabi crop having its longer shelf life. Thus export from Nashik Region is possible throughout the year. 

NAFED’s Role

National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) came into onion export as back as  in 1965 when small consignments were exported to Sri Lanka. This export was continued to other countries also and due to NAFED’s increasing role in this trade, Government of India canalised onion export to Malaysia and Singapore during 1974  and to all destinations during 1975. Since then the canalization of export of onion has been remaining with NAFED. Under the
 canalization scheme NAFED has been exporting onion on its own account ,as also streamlining the exports of onion througth  Associate Shippers.  In this  case the quality , export price etc are regulated. In addition, linkage with farmers, trade and  foreign buyers has been systematically established. A research body, presently known as National Horticulture Research and  Development Foundation (NHRDF) was established more than two decades ago, sponsored by NAFED.  This institution  has been engaged in research, development and extension , improved cultivation practices, improving the storage life etc. 

One of the other notable role played by NAFED is the market intervention operation,   when onion price crashed down to unreasonable level. One such major market intervention was undertaken under the Government of India and the State Government Scheme in 1989-90 when NAFED, along with engaging several co-operative marketing societies procured over
60000 mts onion at the Government announced price of Rs. 60-70 per quintal in Gujarath and Maharashtra as the ruling price had crashed down to the level of Rs. 230 per quintal in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Such market intervention operations had  been done on number of occasions in earlier years also. 

Onion has now become a cash crop which is in demand in export market throughout the year as well as in the entire country. No wonder, therefore, the days of  sales of onion by farmers at throw away prices of Rs 40-50 per quintal have gone. Onion  prices have recently gone up as high as Rs. 900.00 per quintal loose for Fair Average Quality (GAQ). In the peak season of  April - May, FAQ onion has been fetching a price of Rs. 200 to 250 per quintal and as high as Rs. 400 to 900 per quintle during the off season of July-October. 

The qualitative and quantitative improvement in both production and marketing over the years has established   onion cultivation as a safe source of earning to farmers and to internal traders and exporters. 

Export of Onion from India has increased from 169771 tones in 1981-82, worth Rs. 29.43 crores to 515000 tons approximately worth Rs. 332.27 crores in 1996-97. This will give a clear idea of the growth in onion export from India.