Kurnool: Low rainfall is significantly impacting local onion crops, leading to a surge in prices. The prices at Rs 20-Rs 25 per kilo last month have doubled by now while stocks from Pune reaching here are sold for as high as Rs 60.
Kurnool has recorded a 24 per cent rainfall deficit this year, resulting in severe water scarcity for irrigation purposes. Onions require adequate watering during the growing season and closer to harvest to develop large bulbs.
Some farmers, witnessing scarce rainfall, stopped sowing onion seeds and shifted to other crops that require less water.
K. Govind, selection grade secretary to Kurnool Market Yard, said there was an extensive decrease in onion arrivals. Last year, they received 4,000-5,000 bags per day during the season, while this year, as on Wednesday, they received only 773 bags-- around 348 quintals.
Farmers attribute the poor yield to insufficient rain. Traders are now getting onion stocks from Pune to feed the local market. Local onion varieties are priced at ' 44-46 per kilo in Ruthu Bazaar, while the Pune stocks are selling for '50-60 per kilo.
Prices will continue to rise in the coming days due to stock shortages, with traders relying on supplies from Maharashtra.
On October 21, the price of onions was Rs 35 per kilo, which suddenly increased to Rs 44-46. “Due to the lack of local stocks, we are sourcing onions from Pune and selling them in the market for Rs 60-70 per kilo,” a trader said.
Farmers in the region generally cultivate Bhima Shakti Red, Bhima Kiran Light Red and Bhima Shweta White onion varieties during the rabi season. Out of the total cultivation area of 4.21 lakh hectares in Kurnool, sowing activities began in only around 55,000 hectares this year, according to agriculture officials.
Raghavendra Reddy, an onion farmer from Mantralayam, said the stocks available in the market have been grown with water from borewells due to lack of rainfall. This involved a higher cost.
Murali Krishna from Santosh Nagar suggested that the state government take early steps to support consumers. If adequate supply of onions is sourced from Maharashtra, it would alleviate the local problem, he said.
