Comparative Economics of Rabi Onion Storage Structures in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra

The present study was undertaken with the aim of examining economics of different types of storage structures, evaluate storage losses, assessing the profitability of storing onions, and storage efficiency of onion storages structures. The investigation encompassed six villages, with three located in Akole and Sangamner tehsils of the Ahmednagar district. In the study area, farmers mainly used three different types of structures for storing onions, which were classified into the following three categories: Traditional low-cost thatched roof storage structures, bottom-ventilated single-row storage structures, and modified bottom- ventilated double-row storage structures. These structures differed in the raw materials used for construction, expected lifespan, and storage losses. According to study, the maximum net profit was (75.30 %) in modified bottom ventilated double row storage structure, followed by (45.53%) in Bottom Ventilated single row storage structure, and minimum was (26.76 %) in Traditional low-cost thatched roof storage structure. Modified bottom ventilated double row storage structure is highest net return of other structures i.e. The most profitable structure regarding other structures. As the prices of onions fluctuate regularly, farmers can increase the net profit only by reducing the total storage losses and total storage cost. Sometimes even though net profit from onion storage were negative during few months, farmers were still storing the onions.