Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 13: The state has been reeling under acute shortage of rainfall. As a result there has been drastic reduction in the total area where tomato, onion, and green chilli are being grown during this season. Because of sudden drop in the quantum of vegetables, prices of these times are expected to rise unreasonably as demand for these vegetables will not come down because of their widespread usage by families.

Analysts point out that the total rainfall in the state so far has been 233 mm as against the normal rainfall of 294 mm. The meteorological department expects rainfall to pick up shortly. If that happens, farmers might bring additional lands under cultivation for these vegetables. In such a scenario, the prospects for consumers will brighten as prices tend to fall with increase in total output. Tomato prices are already hovering around Rs 70 a kg.

Districts like Chitradurga, Dharwad, Ballari, Chamarajanagara and Davanagere where onion is grown in abundance, Gadag, Ballari, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan districts where green chillis are normally grown, and city rural district, Ramanagara, Kolar and Chikkaballapur where tomatoes are normally grown, have seen considerable reduction in the land area under cultivation. Naturally production of these items will be hit, and their rates may rise to beyond the reach of common people, it is being feared.

As against the normal area of 12,000 hectares in which onion is grown, this time, seeding has happened only in 9,000 hectares. Last year, green chilli had been grown in over 55,000 hectares but this time, only 4,000 hectares have been cultivated. Tomato has also seen a drastic reduction with only 4,000 hectares having been brought under its cultivation. In comparison, potato cultivation has something to cheer about, with over 14,300 hectares already having been brought under its cultivation.