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
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
Jun 08
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
Jun 08
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
Jun 07
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
Jun 07
