Onam to get expensive; crops destroyed by heavy rains; vegetable prices may soar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the crops planted by the farmers targeting the Onam market getting uprooted in the heavy rains, there is concern that people will have to rely on imported goods, which will lead to a rise in prices. Pumpkin, Elephant Yam, Bitter gourd, Tomato, Plantain, and Palayankodan from Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Wayanad and Palakkad regions were mostly destroyed.

This time, the agriculture department aimed to increase the domestic production to 15 lakh metric tonnes but the heavy rain dashed those hopes. More than 25 percent of the crops were destroyed. Therefore, 9 lakh metric tonnes of vegetables for Onam should be brought from Tamil Nadu and Mysore regions.

Project taken by rain

The 'Onathinu Oru Muram Pachakari' program implemented by the Department of Agriculture was also cheated by the weather. Through 1076 Krishi Bhavans, each family was given seeds of five varieties free of charge and the purpose of the project was to grow own vegetables. Although these seeds sprouted in most places, most of them perished with the arrival of rains.

Cultivated crops and areas

Plantain - Thrissur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kozhikode

Pumpkin- Thrissur, Alappuzha, Venmani

Snake gourd- Palakkad, Kottayam, Thrissur

Bitter gourd, beans - Idukki

Ginger - Wayanad, Thrissur

Tomato - Kozhikode

Carrot, Cabbage, Beans - Munnar