India, May 14 -- Even as onion farmers in Nashik grapple with low wholesale prices, many are now facing another setback of fungal disease affecting ready-to-harvest crops.

District agriculture officer Ravindra Mane told HT that the department will conduct a survey in rural Nashik to assess the extent of the damage.

"Our initial feedback is that the fungal disease is not widespread. A small number of farmers have been impacted," Mane said.

According to officials, unseasonal rain and hailstorms in parts of rural Nashik last month triggered the fungal infection in onion crops.

The disease causes leaf spotting, yellowing and rotting of onion bulbs.

Subhas Shinde, a farmer from Satana taluka, said that a fungal infection damaged more than...