Failed Monsoon Pushes Vegetables & Fruits Price Further Up, May Get More Costlier in Festival Season

New Delhi: It is not just Onion which is getting costlier across India. Price of many other vegetables and fruits is also going up. The Monsoon has failed in the top six vegetables and fruit growing states in India. The South-West Monsoon has been below average and scanty in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh in the current season.

Because of this farmers have not planted vegetables in many parts of India. Most vegetables will be ready for harvesting in 3-6 months. Since the rain is deficient, the second crop which is ready for harvesting in November – January is likely to be hit hard. Most vegetables are perishable and can’t be stored. Since most parts of India have no cold storage facility, vegetables perish and may lead to scarcity of them in the Winter.

When compared to June-July, price of essential vegetables and fruits like Potato, Brinjal, Radish, Greens, Plants, Cucumber, Carrot, Banana, Beans, Bitter Gourd, Mango, Pineapple, Garlic, Lemon etc have gone up by 25% - 50% in August third week. According to vegetable market sources the price is likely to go further up in September.

May Hit Festival Season

The Festival season has already begun across India. The demand for the vegetables and fruits will be very high during the big festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri and Deepavali. The lack of rains may turn these festivals a low key affair for the people.

Onion Crisis

The ruling BJP at the Centre is facing another onion crisis. The wholesale onion price has touched Rs.4900 per quintal (100 Kilo) at India’s largest onion market Lasalgaon in Maharashtra.

On a single day the price has gone up by Rs.400 per quintal. Since the wholesale price is almost Rs.50 per 1 Kilogram, the retail price of onion may even cross Rs.65-70 per Kilogram in many parts of India.

Most part of North India gets onion from Lasalgaon market. The other major onion growing state is Karnataka. Like Maharashtra, Karnataka is also facing a drought due to failed Monsoon.

Besides these two states, Onion is grown in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

The Onion which was sold at Rs.20 per Kilogram suddenly became costlier in the last two weeks. The onion is already being sold for Rs. 50-60 per Kilogram in many parts of India. In Bengaluru, one of the largest onion markets in India, the prices have already touched Rs.5000 per quintal.

Worried over the skyrocketing price of onion, the Union government has decided to import 10,000 metric tonnes of onions from abroad. The PSU MMTC has been asked to float a global tender to import 10,000 tonnes. It is likely to import onion from Pakistan and China.

Reasons for Price Rise

The Price of onion is at 2 year high in Lasalgaon market. National Horticultural Foundation says there’s a fall in supply as harvesting has been delayed in Gujarat Rajasthan and MP. It says deficient rainfall could lower Kharif output in Maharashtra, Karnataka, AP, the three major onion growing states in India. Stored Rabi crop has halved from 28 lakh tonnes in July to 14 lakh tonnes now

In the last two years, onion prices have crossed Rs.50 per Kilogram at least four times. The Delhi government is selling onions through government run shops to help the consumers. But, it is nothing compared to the huge demand for the onion.

Failed Monsoon

Only a few parts of India have received excess or normal Monsoon this year. Most other parts have received less than normal Monsoon this time. The distribution of the Monsoon has also been uneven in major states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.