Rajasthan's annual requirement of onion is put at around 1.90 lakh tonnes but last year's total production was 1.12 lakh tonnes as against 2.06 lakh tonnes in the preceding year. The steep fall in output was largely due to untimely rains in the major producing districts of Alwar, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Sikar, Jaipur, Nagaur and Jhunjhunu.

Onion is a major rabi crop in the state though it is also sown during kharif in Alwar and Ajmer districts. Last year, the area under onion was 19,593 hectares as against 24,434 hectares in the previous year, state's deputy director of statistics KK Paliwal said. This year the state's onion acreage may go up to 28,000 hectares with production estimated at 2.09 lakhtonnes.

Efforts are being made to encourage farmers to cultivate onion in new areas with the promise that new seed varieties would be supplied. And with the onion crisis pushing up prices to Rs 60 a kg in Rajasthan this year, farmers are showing interest in the crop. Farmers and traders have, no doubt, made quite decent earnings due to the unprecedentedly high selling rates.

Chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, upset over the issue, has asked concerned authorities to deal sternly with the situation. The government is encouraging onion imports to ensure that there is no shortage of onions during the assembly elections slated for November 25.

Clearly onion shortage will have a definite say on the outcome of the poll and for the ruling BJP things look bad. The Congress is doing its best to take full advantage of the situation blaming the BJP government of protecting the traders, known to be BJP supporters.

The state horticulture department is doing its best to arrange for timely supply to growers.``There is no shortage of seeds'', says a senior government official. Steps have been taken to increase the yield per hectare, which was 57.53 quintal last year, as against the country's average of 100 quintals a hectare. The yield was 84 quintals per hectare the previous year. Maharashtra tops the country in onion production with a share of 28 per cent, followed by Gujarat's 11 per cent and around 10 per cent each of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Rajasthan's share is a measly 4.7 per cent.

``Climatically the state could produce more onions. However, there is a lack of awareness among growers'', says the spokesman. Due to this year's crisis, farmers are more inclined to take up onion cultivation. Last year the country's onion output was 38.37 lakh tonnes as against 44.3 lakh tonnnes in the preceding year.