The production of two main kitchen staples — potato and onion — is estimated to be higher than last year, as per the Ministry of Agriculture. However, in case of tomatoes, the production is pegged slightly lower to 20.14 million tonne this year from 21.17 million tonne last year and this may hit the common man budget in the coming days.
With 326.58 MT horticulture crops production in 2020-21, the first advance estimate of horticulture crops for the year 2020-21, the Ministry has estimated that onion production is likely to be 26.29 Million Tons (MT) as compared to 26.09 MT in 2019-20 and potato production is estimated to be 50.19 MT against production of 48.56 MT last year. The tomato production is expected to be less from 21.17 MT last year to 20.14 MT in 2020-21.
Nevertheless, retail onion and tomato prices are running between Rs 35-60 a kg for the past two months due to lower supply in the mandis across the country. Onion prices across the country, particularly in primary agricultural markets near the growing regions, have crashed between 30 per cent and 40 per cent over the last 10 days as the late kharif crop has begun to flood the markets. Traders and exporters fear further fall in the bulb’s prices as the rabi crop is all set to hit the markets any time after March 15. “Onion prices had topped Rs 4,000 a quintal in Nashik in the third week of February, but they have now dropped to levels of Rs 2,500 as late Kharif crop arrivals have increased since the last 4-5 days,” said a trader.
Potato prices have crashed by about 80 per cent in various primary agricultural markets in major producer-States from a peak of Rs 2,750-2,900 a quintal seen in November last year as arrivals have begun to flood the markets. Potato is ruling to Rs 10-12 a kg.
As per the first advance estimate, the fruits production too is estimated to be 103.23 MT compared to 102.03 MT in 2019-20 and vegetables production is estimated to be 193.61 MT compared to 188.91 MT last year. Total horticulture production in 2020-21 is estimated to be 326.58 MT, an increase of about 5.81 MT from 320.76 million tonne last year, Mango production in the country is estimated to increase 4.24 per cent to 21.12 million tonnes in the crop year 2020-21 ending June. The output of mango, the ‘king of fruits’, stood at 20.26 million tonne during the 2019-20 crop year (July-June).