Onion growers across India experienced significant financial losses in 2025, according to Bharat Dighole of the Maharashtra State Onion Growers Farmers' Association. He alleges the Centre's market interventions, including procurement through intermediaries and low-price releases from buffer stocks, kept prices below production costs. The association is demanding compensation via direct subsidy and has threatened protests if their demands are not met. Data from Maharashtra indicates prices consistently fell below the Rs 22-25 per kg production cost throughout the year.