Recent extreme rainfall and flooding have damaged multiple crops across India, affecting both horticultural and field production.
In North Karnataka, onions have become the latest kharif crop hit by continuous rains and fungal blight, with more than half the crop lost in Kittur, Vijayanagar, and Ballari districts. Farmers in Tamil Nadu also reported weather-related damage, with 60,000 banana trees destroyed in Cheranmahadevi, Tirunelveli district.
The rainfall in Karnataka has reduced onion quality and depressed prices. At Hubballi APMC, one of the state's largest onion markets, local onions are selling for Rs 500–1,350 (US$6–16) per quintal, compared with Rs 800–1,900 (US$9–23) for Pune onions. At the same time last year, local onions sold for Rs 3,000–4,000 (US$36–48). Traders noted that Pune and Nashik onions are setting the price benchmarks, with first-grade local onions at Rs 700–1,200 (US$8–14) per quintal, second-grade at Rs 500–700 (US$6–8), and third-grade at Rs 200–400 (US$2–5). By contrast, Nashik and Pune onions are fetching Rs 1,200–1,600 (US$14–19).
Farmers across Dharwad, Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Haveri, Gadag, Chitradurga, Ballari, and Koppal have been affected. In Dharwad, onions were planted on 6,300 hectares, with over 50% lost. Gadag reported 4,000 hectares damaged out of 14,000, Bagalkot over 3,000 hectares, and Vijayanagar 108.59 hectares. Many farmers report losses. Siddalingappa from Gadag said, "I cultivated onions on 1.5 acres, spending Rs 70,000 (US$840). The rains destroyed much of the crop, and I harvested only 58 bags, selling them for Rs 25,000 (US$300). I haven't even recovered my sowing and labour costs."
Some growers have scaled down acreage after repeated price collapses. In Harapanahalli, Vijayanagar district, farmer D Ramanagouda destroyed 12 acres of onions with tractors after rains damaged the crop and prices slumped. Farmers are calling for government compensation.
Meanwhile, flooding along the Ravi has caused damage in Punjab. In Gurdaspur's Dera Baba Nanak, cauliflower planted on about 1,200 acres was destroyed, resulting in estimated losses of Rs 12 crore. Farmers had invested over Rs 50,000 (US$600) per acre in land preparation, fertilisers, and pesticides. The crop, normally arriving early in September and fetching Rs 70–80 (US$0.84–0.96) per kg before prices fall with wider supply, was washed away. Jagtar Singh Thethrke, who had sown three acres of cauliflower, said he lost his entire crop despite spending Rs 1.5 lakh (US$1,800) on inputs.
In Amritsar, floods damaged saplings of pathar nakh pears in Ajnala. This variety, unique to Amritsar, is mainly sold in Kolkata during Durga Puja. Horticulture officials said grown trees survived, but saplings were hit.
Source 1: Deccan Herald
Source 2: New Indian Express
Source 3: Times of India
Source 4: The Tribune
