PUNE: The
prevailing drought-like situation in parts of the state may hit the production
of most vegetables, sending their retail prices soaring early next year.
“The situation of water table in October this year is akin to
what it usually is during January each year, which is why production of most
vegetables, including tomatoes, may dip by around 20% after the next three
months, causing a surge in their prices,” sources from the All India Vegetable
Growers’ Association said.
They said considering the prevailing situation, farmers may
also steer clear of sowing vegetables in blocks that are reporting a shortage
of water. Shriram Gadhave, president of the Vegetable Growers’ Association of
India, said the water table has already started dipping in parts of the state.
“This will impact vegetable production after the next two-three months. The
tomato prices may rise to Rs 80/kg in April next year,” he said.
Vilas Shinde, MD at Sahyadri Farmers Producer Company Ltd,
said, “Vegetable plantations have already dipped in vegetable growing regions.
Our sources in nurseries, which provide vegetable plants to farmers for
planting, are reporting a 50% dip in their October orders.”
He said the area from Nashik to Marathwada, including
Aurangabad and Jalna, may see a dip in vegetable plantation mainly, the effect
of which might will become apparent as early as December. “A 30% dip in vegetable
produce is expected in the near future as vegetable planting has already begun
dipping. Some effect on vegetable production in eastern Pune might also be
seen, in locations like Indapur, Baramati and Solapur,” Shinde added.
Gadhave said places that do not have canal irrigation
facilities were witnessing a dipping water table in October, a phenomenon which
usually occurs in January. “Farmers may, therefore, refrain from sowing
vegetables,” he said.
He said most areas in the state recorded less rainfall this
monsoon. “It is due to this reason that Western Maharashtra, where a bulk of
vegetables are grown, may also see a dip in production. No impact on potatoes,
however, is expected as most of its production will happen before January
2019,” he said.
A state horticulture department official said the state
government has declared a ‘drought-like’ situation in 128 talukas, reporting
‘trigger 2’ conditions. “A bulk of vegetables in the state is produced in
regions with canal irrigation. However, the regions where this form of
irrigation is not available may see an impact of the water scarcity, a
situation which may worsen in January and February,” he said.
Another state horticulture department said the water situation
is not that severe in major vegetable producing regions, such as Pune, Satara,
Kolhapur, Sangli, Sangamner, Nashik, west Ahmednagar, which fall on the west
side of the state, as the dams are full in the Western Ghat region.
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