By Editor Onions hold a special place in Indian kitchens, where it is used in almost every dish. From daily curries to street food delights, onion is a must-have ingredient to enhance the taste and flavour. Onion is widely used in dishes as well as a salad to complement the flavour. No doubt that onion is beyond flavour as well because its cultivation also plays an important role in India’s rural economy and agriculture.
India is the second-largest onion producer in the world after China, and it contributes more than 10% to the global onion supply. All this became possible through some dominating regions of particular states. Each state has contributed to the national production. India produces around 24.7 lakh metric tonnes of onion with the help of improved irrigation systems, storage techniques, and better seed quality. Among the onion-producing states, the following are the top 5 largest onion-producing states in India in 2025.
1. Maharashtra – 8.6 Million Tonnes (35.4% share)
Maharashtra is an undisputed leader in onion production with its 35% share in the total national output of 2025. Maharashtra produced about 8.6 million tonnes of onions with 9.7 lakh hectares of land under onion cultivation. The dominating regions that contributed to onion production are Nashik, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Pune, Solapur, and Satara. Maharashtra is famous for having onions with better shelf life and flavour, especially the Nashik Red onions. These onions are often exported in the domestic market as well as to the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
2. Madhya Pradesh – 4.1 Million Tonnes (17.1% share)
Madhya Pradesh is an agriculture-centred region with the majority of its land used for cropping. Farmers grow various types of crops for crop rotation. Madhya Pradesh ranks second in onion production with around 4.1 million tonnes of production in 2025. The total land under onion cultivation was around 4.2 lakh hectares, and it offered better yield per hectare as compared to Maharashtra. Most of its onion product is used for inter-state supply and household consumption. The only concerning point in onion production in Madhya Pradesh is market volatility and limited cold storage.
3. Gujarat – 2.05 Million Tonnes (8.5% Share)
With 2.05 million tonnes of onion production, Gujarat ranks third in this list. It contributes around 8.5% in total national output with 2.1 lakh hectares of land under onion cultivation. If you notice the yield rate per hectare, Gujarat is performing better than both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The key districts with dominance in onion production are Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Jamnagar, and Junagadh. Heat stress and pest infestation are the major issues in Gujarat’s onion production; otherwise, this state leads in yield rate.
4. Karnataka – 1.63 Million Tonnes (6.7% Share)
Karnataka stands fourth with around 1.63 million tonnes of onion production in 2025. It contributes approximately 6.7% of India’s total output. Onion cultivation here thrives in Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, and Chitradurga districts. The state’s dual-season cropping, Kharif and Rabi, ensures a steady supply throughout the year. The total land used for onion cultivation in Karnataka is around 1.6 lakh hectares, which offers an excellent yield rate as well.
5. Rajasthan – 1.63 Million Tonnes (6.7% Share)
With approximately equal production of onions to Karnataka, Rajasthan ranks fifth in this list. Rajasthan contributes around 6.7% to the national output, and it produces around 1.63 million tonnes through 1.5 lakh hectares of land under onion cultivation. The yield rate of Rajasthan is also impressive. Most of its onion production comes from Jaipur, Sikar, Tonk, Bhilwara, and Nagaur districts. In Rajasthan, onions grow mainly in the Rabi season, where farmers depend on groundwater for irrigation. The only concerning point among farmers of Rajasthan is the irrigation cost and heat stress on the crop.
Conclusion
India’s onion production in 2025 continues to demonstrate both strength and regional diversity. Maharashtra remains the top producer with its quality ecosystem, which benefits onion farming. However, other states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan play an important role in fulfilling the countrywide requirement. These five states supply over 75% of the country’s total onion, which shapes national food prices and export potential. The only issue India’s farmers are facing is climate change and unpredictable weather in recent years.