Failed monsoon sends onion prices zooming in Karnataka, straining household budgets in festive season

Grappling with the fallout, retailers are attributing this crisis to soaring prices at the mandis (wholesale markets).

Meanwhile, mandis are grappling with a supply shortage, further exacerbated by the adverse impacts of the monsoon failure.

Traditionally relying on the influx of onions from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, traders are now finding themselves navigating uncertain terrain.

Meanwhile, the agrarian community is deeply worried over the impact of the complete the monsoon failure on the standing crops of onion and chilly, and are staring at losses in most parts of Karnataka.

Related: Karnataka identifies 195 talukas as drought-hit amidst rain deficit

‘Monsoon failure affected growers’

Most traders of vegetables — especially onions — are holding the monsoon failure as one of the main factors for the rise in onion prices in Karnataka that has sparked anger among the masses.

A week ago, onions were priced below ₹50 per kg. Now, the price is ₹80-140 in the retail market, including outlets of the Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS), which is used for the direct marketing of farm produce in Karnataka.

Bengaluru Potato and Onion Merchants Association Secretary and onion trader Ravishankar B told South First: “Onion is the main crop from Chitradurga to Belagavi. The monsoon failure has severely affected the onion growers across the state.”

He added: “In most of the districts where onion is grown in large quantities, the crop has completely failed. As per our estimates, only 50 percent was sown and around 20-50 percent of that yield is likely to be hit by the poor rains. Hence, the supply is not overwhelming in any mandis.”

He continued: “Another factor is that many farmers opted to sow a lower quantity of onions this year compared to the previous year, and are moving to other crops such as arecanut in parts of central Karnataka.”

He also noted: “Farmers from Chitradurga and Davangere supply onions in August and September, whereas it comes from farmers from Gadag, Belagavi, and Dharwad to the Yeshwanthpur mandi. However, this year it is very less compared to previous years.”

“At present, we are dependent on Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for onion supply. We are expecting the supply of onions from Rajasthan in December. There won’t be a severe shortage, but the price of onions is likely to go up in the coming days.”

Also read: Crops at risk as farmers struggle with drought-like conditions

Waiting for drought relief

Meanwhile, Karnataka’s agrarian community appears to be in a state of worry due to the monsoon failure and the resulting poor yield. The state this year witnessed at least 40 percent less onion sowing compared to the previous year.

Gadag, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Davanagere, Chitradurga, and Dharwad are the leading producers of onion in the state.

Farmer Ramesh Navalgund, a resident of Gadag’s Rona taluka, told South First: “I have sown onion over four acres. I am expecting only 10 percent of the yield as the remaining 90 percent is failing due to monsoon failure.”

He added. “The agricultural lands across Gadag district are largely dependent on rains. As the monsoon has completely failed, the farmers are reeling under severe difficulty due to the crop failure.”

He also said: “Farmers are sweating it out to save the chilli crop by supplying water through tankers. We expected good rains this year, but the poor rains shattered our hopes. Farmers in the Gadag district are staring at big losses this season.”

He criticised the government for not taking up relief works even two weeks after declaring drought.

Farmer Heeranayak, a resident of Chitradurga’s Challakere, told South First: “We used to have bumper crops, especially onions, every year. This year, farmers are completely disappointed as there is hardly any rain.”

He added: “I have sown onion over three acres and invested at least ₹25,000 per acre. It is because of the poor monsoon that the crop has completely failed. We are staring at a loss. The government should initiate the drought relief work at the earliest.”

Horticulture Department Assistant Director (Belagavi) Mahantesh K told South First: “The district witnessed over 40 percent less sowing of onion this year compared to last year. It is mainly because of the monsoon failure that the sowing has reduced drastically.”

He added: “We had poor rains in June, August, and September, and recorded good rainfall only in July. Around 10,000 acres of onion used to be sown in the district every year. This year, it has been reduced to 3,000 acres. This will definitely affect the yield.”

Mahantesh also said that the department would start the drought relief works soon after a directive from the state government.

Also read: Karnataka CM attacks PM Modi over delay in drought relief

Costs pinch households

As families in the state prepare for festivities, the unforeseen surge in onion prices poses a dilemma, compelling them to shell out more to meet this kitchen staple.

The intersection of seasonal agricultural patterns, weather-related challenges, and supply chain disruptions underscores the complexity of the issue, leaving consumers grappling with the ramifications in the midst of celebrations.

Homemaker Mangala, a resident of Bengaluru, told South First: “The sudden surge in onion prices has increased the weekly expenses on veggies. As this is the festival season, we need more vegetables. With no other option left, we are forced to purchase at a higher price.”

She noted: “Tomato prices shot up a couple of months ago, and now its onion. The retailers are hinting at a further surge in onion prices. If the prices of daily essential items continue to rise, how do the poor survive?”

The price for sambar-variety onions stands around ₹140 at HOPCOMS outlets in Bengaluru. The same variety is priced at ₹145 on e-commerce websites.

However, other varieties of onion cost between ₹80 and ₹125 per kg across the state.