Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (EP)

Bengaluru, Sep 17: This year has witnessed a bumper crop of onions in the midst of reduced rains. However, it has brought tears in the eyes of farmers due to crash of prices. Farmers grow onions mainly in Chitradurga, Haveri, Bagalkote, Belgaum and Koppala districts with rain and irrigated water. There is a yield of 80 to 90 bags per acre.

Most of the onions grown in the state come to Bengaluru Yashwantpur APMC yard and there is hardly anybody who wants them. Onions were sold between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 per quintal last year, but the prices now have crashed to Rs 200 and Rs 300 per quintal this year. Onions are supplied to other parts of state also. But there is no demand anywhere.

Farmers pay exorbitant prices on seeds and manure and face the hardship of power failure. They borrow money, but are unable to fetch a suitable price for their produce. They are unable to recover even their wages. There are instances where farmers have left their yield in the field to rot under the circumstances.

Farmers have urged the government to announce suitable support prices for onions and to open a center for their purchase.

Some traders said it is the lowest price in five years. In some places the price has reached as low as one rupee per kg.