Thondamuthur farmers experience bumper small onion crop but face low prices. They seek government intervention for fair pricing and storage advice to weather the market fluctuations.
Coimbatore: Small onion farmers in Thondamuthur and surrounding areas of Coimbatore district are facing a severe crisis due to low market prices despite a good harvest. The farmers have cultivated small onions, also known as shallots, on approximately 5,000 acres of red and clay soil lands in the region.
This year, due to delayed seasonal rains, farmers planted small onions in the months of Chithirai and Vaikasi (April-May). Currently, they are engaged in harvesting activities. The yield is impressive, with farmers obtaining about 5 tons per acre in red soil and 3 tons per acre in clay soil.
However, the farmers' joy is short-lived as middlemen are purchasing the small onions at meager prices ranging from ₹7 to ₹10 per kilogram. Farmers claim this amount doesn't even cover their basic labor costs. As a result, many farmers have decided to store their produce in warehouses, hoping for better prices in the future.
Storing onions comes with its own set of challenges. Farmers are concerned about issues such as sprouting, rotting, and water loss due to climate changes, lack of ventilation, and heat in the warehouses. They are urging the Tamil Nadu Agriculture, Horticulture, and Marketing Department officials to provide proper guidance on storage techniques for small onions.
The farmers are also emphasizing the need for modern technology in preserving onions, given the changing climatic conditions. They have appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to set a fair and stable price for small onions during the cultivation season, suggesting a range of ₹50 to ₹80 per kilogram.
The farmers highlight that the costs of seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation methods, and agricultural labor have all increased. Consequently, they incur significant expenses in cultivating small onions. They are urging the Tamil Nadu government and the Agriculture Department to establish a consistent and fair pricing mechanism for small onions to ensure their livelihood is protected.