NEW DELHI: The early arrival of the southwest monsoon coupled with hugely surplus rains month in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat last month has had a marginal adverse impact on the horticultural crops such as onion and tomato.
But overall horticulture production being robust, the agriculture-sector value addition in the year may not be adversely impacted. Then sector roughly accounts for a third of gross value added in the farm sector.
According to traders and farmers, while about 95% of rabi onion crop in Maharanshtra had been harvested and stored by mid-May, a small portion of standing crop is hit by excessive rainfall received last month. The state accounts for over 40% of onion output.
Bharat Digole, president, Maharashtra State Onion Producers’ Organisation, ruled out any supply constraints as rabi production, which constitutes 70 – 75% of the total crop, is estimated at 22.7 million tonne in 2024-25 crop year (July-June). The output is 18% higher compared to previous crop year.
In Karnataka, heavy rainfall in key tomato-producing regions including Kolar district has impacted the crop which is likely to push up prices in the coming months.
Maharashtra in May had received 159.4 mm of rainfall as against the normal of 14.4 mm. Karnataka, also a key grower of tomatoes and onion, received 219 mm of rainfall last month, 197% higher than average normal rainfall.
Trade sources said that while the mandi prices of tomatoes have increased by 10-25% in states including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra in the past one week, modal wholesale prices according to department of consumer affairs has risen to Rs 1500/quintal on Monday from Rs 1250/quintal prevailed on May 24.
However retail prices of tomatoes and onions have not seen corresponding increase and currently modal prices are Rs 20/kg for both the key vegetables.
“The impact of unseasonal rains on standing crops will be seen in the output and prices after a month,” Ashok Kaushik, leading trader of tomatoes, at Azadpur mandi, Delhi, one of the largest wholesale markets for fruits and vegetables, said.
Officials said the pre-monsoon showers are expected to adversely impact output of all other vegetable crops.
Meanwhile, sowing of kharif crops such as paddy and pulses have commenced in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana a week earlier than normal.
In May, average monthly rainfall received in the country was over 85% over the above normal benchmark.
The southwest monsoon set over Kerala coast on May 24, eight days ahead of the normal date of June 1 and progressed rapidly over Maharashtra and Karnataka and north eastern states.
However experts say the progress of monsoon has been stalled due to the dry air intrusion and revival of monsoon likely after June 10.
The met department on Monday has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall likely to continue over Northeastern states in the next two days and decrease in intensity thereafter. The rainfall along with thunderstorms and gusty winds is likely to continue over northwest India during the next three days.
Source: The Financial Express
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