Inflation News: Your kitchen budget may increase in the coming days. Supply of onions, pulses, sugar, fruits and vegetables is likely to decrease due to drought-like conditions in Maharashtra. This will increase the prices of these items. As, Maharashtra is a major producer of these agricultural commodities accounting for a significant share of total production. Reservoir levels in the state are currently 20% lower than last year due to less rainfall.
According to the Economic Times news, due to scarcity of water in Maharashtra, rabi season onion sowing is likely to decline. Pigeon pea and sugar production are already set to decline, while wheat and gram sowing are also indicating lower output. On the other hand, onion prices are already high.
Onion area decreased due to lack of water
According to the India Meteorological Department, overall rainfall was normal in Maharashtra during the monsoon, but was deficient in many areas such as Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra and North Maharashtra. Farmers who used to grow onions in five acres have reduced their area to two acres due to lack of water. Some farmers, who planted onions in nurseries hoping for rain during Diwali, are looking for buyers.
Government’s new scheme, preparing to increase production in the country by reducing imports of pulses
Ravi season runs from October 1 to November 15. Low onion sowing may affect supply next year. Onion prices are already high. This has led to a rise in kitchen retail inflation to over 42% in October. The Consumer Food Price Index rose 6.6% this month from a year ago.
In how many days is the onion crop ready?
It takes 45 to 55 days to prepare a nursery from onion seeds, after which the seedlings are transplanted. Kharif season onions are ready in 90 days, while Ravi onions take 120 days to ripen.
Fear of reduction in pigeon pea production
Pippa production is likely to decline due to deficient monsoon rains in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Chickpeas are also likely to be hit. Nitin Kalantri, a processor of chickpeas and tuwer in Maharashtra, said, “The area of chickpeas is likely to decline by 10 to 15%.”
Sorghum prices at historic highs
Apart from this, if we talk about sorghum, farmers have planted it immediately after soybean harvest to take advantage of the soil moisture available in the fields. Sorghum prices have touched a historic high of Rs 85 per kg. Jowar is the staple food of the farming community in Maharashtra and North Karnataka.