Bengaluru: Heavy rains may have drenched Karnataka’s onion fields, but it is the market price crash that has broken the farmers far more brutally. After managing to protect their crops through relentless downpours, ryots are now staring at a complete collapse in onion prices, turning their hard-earned harvest into a heap of loss.
Scenes from Raichur district show farmers leaving tonnes of onions in their fields, letting cattle feed on them because selling the produce makes no financial sense anymore. Farmers say the situation is worse than ever — “Onions make buyers cry, but this time, even growers are in tears.”
In Kadagamdoddi village of Raichur taluk, farmer Aanjinamma cultivated onions on two acres, investing nearly ₹1 lakh despite persistent rains. She protected her crop through hardship, but the moment she brought her produce to the market, she was shocked — onion prices had fallen from ₹3,000 per quintal last season to just ₹700–₹800 now.
At such a low rate, the transportation cost itself is higher than the market price, forcing farmers to dump their produce or leave it to rot.
“We spent lakhs, took loans, and protected the crop in heavy rain. Now the market price won’t even cover transport costs. How do we repay loans or pay daily labourers?” she asked in anguish.
Farmers say lenders and banks are repeatedly knocking at their doors, while they have no cash to even pay labour charges. Many have decided not to harvest the crop at all — as selling it only deepens their loss.
Agricultural experts warn that unless the government intervenes with price support, procurement, or compensation, the distress may escalate further in major onion-producing regions.
Farmers are appealing to the state government to stabilise onion prices, announce relief measures, and ensure their year-long effort does not end in debt and despair.
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