New Delhi: The price of garlic has reached as high as Rs 400 per kg in certain markets in the country, especially in the the northeastern states, raising an alarm. Three months ago, garlic sold for Rs 150, when prices first started to rise.
Depleting groundwater in two major producer states, which turns into a farming catastrophe whenever the monsoon rains fail, is driving sudden and sharp spikes in garlic prices, traders and experts said, describing the situation as an environmental-farming disaster that was long in the making, Hindustan Times reported. A patchy monsoon and poor rainfall have damaged crops, leading to a decline in garlic output. The situation is expected to stabilise in January with the arrival of a fresh crop, but prices may remain elevated until March. China is the largest producer of garlic globally, accounting for 73.8% of total production, the report added.
According to a trader in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur, the largest wholesale trading hub for the commodity, on Monday, the costliest variety sold at a wholesale rate of Rs 23,000 a quintal (100kg).
Garlic is grown in both summer (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons. Traders say poor rainfall damaged the summer crop sown around July in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Maharashtra alone accounts for nearly 40% of the total production in India. Farmers had to replant the crop towards September, when the rains picked pace. Kharif-sown garlic is planted in June-July and harvested in October-November. Delayed sowing has pushed back harvesting, straining supplies, the report added.
Garlic output has been declining over the years. According to official estimates, production in 2022-23 stood at 2.2 million tonnes in contrast to 3.5 million tonnes in the previous year. In 2020-21, garlic output stood at 3.3 million tonnes.
While Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat are also large producing states, a shortfall in Maharashtra and Karnataka has exacerbated the crisis. When rains fail, farmers usually turn to pumping ground water but depleting subterranean water tables in Karnakata and Maharashtra hit garlic growers hard.
“There was no water at even 40 feet. The per-feet costs vary around Rs 300- Rs 500 and the more you dig deeper the more expenses you incur,” an official of the Bidar wholesale market was quoted as saying by the publication.
Globally, China leads in garlic production, accounting for 73.8% of total production, followed by India with a 10.4% share, suggesting a huge productivity gap.
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