Farmers in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana anticipate a sharp decline in vegetable output this year, due to sustained declines in the water table after consecutive years of below-average rain.
Prices of vegetables are expected to stay high for the next four to six weeks.
Vegetable prices have risen by up to 40 per cent at wholesale markets over the past week because of less availability.
Cabbage in Mumbai’s wholesale markets has become costlier by 33 per cent to Rs 20 a kg.
Onion prices are rising and the Centre has withdrawn the earlier 10 per cent export incentive on it to discourage shipment out of India, it announced on Tuesday.
Prices are expected to stay high for the next four to six weeks.
“Overall acreage under vegetables might rise by five to 7 per cent this year but overall output might not rise proportionately,” said a senior official at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee at Vashi, Navi Mumbai.
Farmers in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana anticipate a sharp decline in vegetable output this year, due to sustained declines in the water table after consecutive years of below-average rain.
While forecasts of a normal monsoon this year have kept their hopes alive, the distribution of rain would be key in scaling up overall output and farmer incomes.
Normally, vegetables sown with irrigated water in the pre-monsoon season get harvested with the onset of monsoon.
This year, vegetable crops were hit because of deficient rain in the past two years and in pre-monsoon showers.
“Output of vegetable crops would decline by 50-60 per cent due to lack of moisture in the field.
"Thus, overall vegetable yield is expected to decline sharply in summer-sown crops,” said Sanjay Bhujbal, a large stockist at Vashi.
Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters
