Steep Fall in Vegetable Prices Causing Distress to Farmers: Causes and Remedies

Over the past three months, there has been a sharp decline in the prices of vegetables and some fruits across various markets in India, creating distress for farmers, especially those dealing in perishable produce.

Nature of the Problem
Most vegetables—especially leafy greens and fresh varieties—are highly perishable, unlike relatively stable crops like onions, potatoes, and other tubers. Without proper cold storage and logistics infrastructure, these fragile vegetables often deteriorate before reaching consumers, adding pressure to sell quickly at any available price.

Recent Price Trends
Since April, there has been a noticeable price crash:

Cauliflower: Dropped from ₹60–₹70 to around ₹27 per piece

Broccoli: Reduced from ₹90–₹100 to ₹40 per piece

Tomatoes: Fell from ₹40–₹50 to ₹15 per kg

Onions: Down from ₹60–₹70 to ₹39 per kg

Potatoes (Ooty variety): Slashed from ₹80–₹90 to ₹39 per kg

Carrots: Came down from consistently above ₹80 to ₹55

Brinjal, Bitter Gourd, and others: Almost halved in price from previous rates of ₹70–₹80

Even fruits, barring a few exceptions like apples, sweet lime, and pineapples, have seen price corrections. While the seasonal nature of mangoes could explain their price fall, banana prices have remained steady across all varieties.

Underlying Causes
Several factors may have contributed to this situation:

Overproduction in certain regions without adequate market linkage

Inadequate cold storage facilities, leading to forced distress sales

Poor demand forecasting and distribution

World trade tariff fluctuations affecting import-export balance

Unseasonal weather patterns, including unexpected rains and heatwaves

Transportation issues and bottlenecks post-harvest

Alarming Signs
In Bellary, Karnataka, the crisis has reached such an extent that some onion farmers, unable to recover even basic costs, have dumped their produce on the streets in protest and despair.

Possible Remedies
Improved cold chain infrastructure across rural hubs

Better price forecasting and real-time market data for farmers

Strengthening Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to negotiate better rates

Government buffer stock mechanisms and Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for select perishables

Encouraging food processing units in surplus zones to absorb excess produce

Awareness and training for farmers on crop planning and diversification. more  

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View all 7 comments Below 7 comments
This is part of the usual pattern. To some extent this could have been mitigated if politicians had not indulged in totally throwing out the farm laws. A meaningful and responsible discussion instead of violently opposing what the government makes is one of the major reasons. more  
In Mumbai vegetable prices have gone up instead of coming down. more  
Agriculture & horticulture deeply correlated with rainfall & ups- down in temperature. Sudden rainfall at many times adversely affect vegetable production which inturn affects market supplies. Moreover, vegetable prices fluctuate with export orders. So keep smiling , do'nt worry as Govt. do not have any solution right now. more  
Dear friends, kindly ote care fully about the price crash I mentioned was from April, for a short period. All the above ₹ 50's ar in June Please. I have bought carrot for ₹ 29 /KG in April and made Carrot Halwa. Most have gone up in June exept for Onions and Tomatoes and potatoes. more  
Right now all the vegetable prices are increased...potato in Coimbatore is 54 rs/kg...all green vegetable are average 50/-per kg...is it called low price????And for farmers govt has to minimise middlemen interference,which is failed by goverment...then why we should shell out more price from our pocket????All non-sense suggestions are here shared. more  
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