Farmers in doldrums as garlic prices plunge

Chamarajanagar 

Farmers who were once delighted during garlic planting are now in tears as prices of garlic have suddenly crashed when it’s time for harvest.

Having incurred expenses for cultivation, many farmers find themselves trapped in a debt cycle. The farmers in the taluk were optimistic when garlic prices soared to new heights and began planting it alongside onions. The sustained rise in garlic prices over the months attracted many farmers, who invested heavily in seed purchases. Now, the short-duration crop of garlic has reached the market, but the demand has plunged.

The crops planted in mid-December are now ready for harvest, but there is a significant drop in market demand for garlic. Prices have hit an all-time low. As a result, garlic that was once being exported to other states must now be supplied to local markets, creating anxiety among the farmers.

Last season, we bought quality seeds from the Salem market for Rs 50,000 per quintal for planting.   Overall, we have invested lakhs in these crops. During planting, the price was Rs 25,000 per quintal, but now it has fallen to about Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per quintal at harvest time. Due to this price drop, we haven’t even managed to recover half of our expenses. Wholesalers don’t even look our way, lamented Rangaswamy, a farmer.

 The rise in garlic prices had initially deterred consumers from buying it. Due to the recent drop, garlic is now available in the market at Rs 100 per kilogram. This price has encouraged customers to buy more for home use.  However, this situation has led to losses for the producers. Consequently, farmers are rushing to harvest and transport their produce to Salem market, noted farmer Basavshetti.