Onion prices in Maharashtra, and potato prices in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have crashed, leaving farmers, who have been compelled to destroy their crops due to oversupply of the produce, in distress
There was a glut of onion, potato crops in the country this year, leading to a crash in prices. Onion farmers in Maharashtra have either been compelled to sell the onions at Re 1 per kg, or throw away the crops. Potato crops in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have met the same fate
Rate of potatoes has crashed between 60-76% this year. Against the price of Rs 10 per kg last year, Punjab farmers are struggling to get Rs 4 per kg this year. The cost of growing a kg of potato is between Rs 7-8, say potato growers in Haryana
Agriculture expert Devinder Sharma has called it a ‘farm bloodbath’. Maharashtra saw an increase in Kharif onion acreage that resulted in nearly 20% productivity, responsible for the glut
The unusual rise in temperatures in February is driving early crop maturity this year of onion across Northwest India, and potato and cauliflower across North India. The shelf life of Kharif onions is shorter as compared to Rabi crops. Kharif onions are required to be sold within 7-8 days and Rabi onions have a shelf life of up to 6 months
When crop prices crash, farmers reduce acreage in the next season, resulting in a shortfall and eventual increase in demand. Conducive environment and increase in demand encourages farmers to grow more which results in an oversupply
Agriculture experts believe that strengthening cold storage chains, fruit and vegetable processing, market intervention and price differential schemes can save farmers from a farm bloodbath
Punjab farmers and even some politicians have favoured exporting tomatoes, potatoes, and wheat to neighbouring Pakistan that is battling an economic crisis and increased inflation. Onion and potato prices in Pakistan had reached somewhere between PKR 400-500 per kg