NAVI MUMBAI, May 20 -- Onion prices have plummeted sharply in both wholesale and retail markets across Maharashtra, bringing relief to households but leaving farmers in distress. A bumper harvest this year has led to an oversupply, far outstripping demand and driving prices down to a fraction of what they were just months ago. In Vashi's Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), which supplies onions to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), wholesale prices have dropped from Rs.35-Rs.40 per kg in February to just Rs.7-Rs.13 per kg in May. Retail prices have followed suit, falling from Rs.45 per kg to about Rs.25-Rs.30 per kg, with some local markets offering them for even less. According to traders, prices may continue to slide further due to continued heavy arrivals and lack of corresponding demand. "Last year, farmers earned good prices for their onion crop, so they expanded cultivation this season expecting higher profits," explained Ashok Karpe, a wholesaler at Vashi APMC. "But production has nearly doubled, and the market simply cannot absorb the volume. Every day, we're receiving over 170 vehicles carrying onions, compared to the usual 90 to 100." He added that recent unseasonal rain in rural Maharashtra has forced farmers to release their stored stock to prevent spoilage, further intensifying the glut. Major supplies are arriving from Nashik, Ahmednagar, Sangamner, and Pune. In order to help stabilise the market, the central government waived the 20% export duty on onions in April. However, farmers say the decision came too late. "The waiver should have come in January or February, when export orders were being finalised," said Sachin More, a farmer from Nashik. "By April, countries had already sourced their onions from elsewhere, as our prices were too high to compete. Now, even covering production costs has become difficult." While growers face financial ruin, consumers are enjoying the low prices. "With such abundant supply, we are buying onions at rates we decide," said Pradeep Sawant, a retailer. "We factor in wastage and still manage to sell them cheaper. Shoppers are buying in larger quantities now."...