Drought damages 62,985 hectares of onion crop in Karnataka; prices remain high

…Onion requires sufficient water for cultivation. In black soil, farmers need to irrigate it once in 20 days to retain moisture, while in red soil, water should be provided once every 10 days.” Mr. Malipatil added: “ For the past three years, onion prices were too low and farmers did not make profits. Prices were around ₹400-500 a quintal, or ₹10-15 a kg. As returns remained poor, some farmers in north Karnataka gave up onion cultivation altogether. ” Kharif yield important to stabilise the price B.R. Raghu, Senior Scientist at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, explained: “A major share of onion cultivation in Karnataka takes place during…

…kharif season because the crop can be grown well in rain-fed areas. Sowing begins in May and harvesting takes place in September and October. This year, arrivals may be delayed due to poor rainfall and crop failure. A good kharif harvest in Karnataka is crucial for onion price stability across India. ” “Of the total onion cultivation area in India, only about 30% is under the kharif crop, concentrated largely in Karnataka, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Nashik in Maharashtra. The remaining 70% falls under the rabi…