Sowing of Rabi onions in Maharashtra and Karnataka has dropped by up to 20% as of the first week of January, with experts predicting a potential 10-15% decrease in onion acreage for the season. This drop in production could lead to higher food inflation around March-April, just before the Lok Sabha polls. The low reservoir levels in major onion producing states have affected irrigation prospects, leading to a shift away from Rabi onion cultivation.