From Farm Distress to Kitchen Shock: Garlic Prices Skyrocket in Karnataka
Drought-hit farmers struggle with rising cultivation costs even as a price surge brings windfall gains to some growers
Bengaluru: Garlic prices have soared in Karnataka, with retail rates in Bengaluru touching ₹250 to ₹280 a kg as arrivals at the Yeshwanthpur Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) yard have fallen by nearly 50 per cent. The shortage has pushed wholesale prices to around ₹200 a kg in some transactions, squeezing household budgets while exposing farmers to mounting cultivation costs.
Traders attribute the price rise to drought, lower yields and reduced supplies from major producing states. Karnataka’s limited local production leaves its markets dependent on Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Manoj, a garlic and ginger wholesaler, said Bengaluru usually receives around 3,000 bags of garlic daily, each weighing 40 to 60 kg. “Over the last few days, the supply has come down by 50 per cent, resulting in a sharp increase in prices. The drought has affected supplies,” he said.
“ಮುಕ್ತ ದಾಸ್ತಾನಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶವೇ ಬೆಳ್ಳುಳ್ಳಿ ಬೆಲೆ ಏರಿಕೆಗೆ ಕಾರಣ” – ಬರ್ಡ್ನಾಪುರ್ ನಾಗರಾಜ್, ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸಂಚಾಲಕರು, ರಾಜ್ಯ ರೈತ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಕಬ್ಬು ಬೆಳೆಗಾರರ ಸಂಘ
Interstate supply gap drives prices
Trader Hameed said Ranebennur in Haveri district is a major producer of locally grown garlic, but its output is insufficient to meet the state’s demand.
“We usually receive garlic from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. At present, supplies are coming only from Madhya Pradesh. We hope normal supplies from Gujarat and Rajasthan will resume by the end of December, helping stabilise prices,” he said.
Garlic prices at Bengaluru APMC on October 16 ranged from ₹10,000 to ₹24,000 per quintal, with a reported model price of ₹12,000. Traders expect fresh arrivals between December and January to ease the shortage.
Seed costs add to farmers’ distress
Garlic growers face another challenge as seed prices have risen sharply ahead of the rabi sowing season. Prices that ranged from ₹3,000 to ₹6,000 per quintal last year have climbed to ₹10,000 to ₹15,000, increasing farmers’ investment at a time of uncertain rainfall.
In drought-hit Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar district, farmers have relied on remaining borewell water and tanker supplies after poor rainfall and inadequate water from the Kabini canal. Despite lower yields, some growers have benefited from market prices reportedly reaching ₹45,000 per quintal.
Farmer leader questions government policy
Baradanapura Nagraj, convenor of the Karnataka Federation of Farmers Organisations, alleged that policies permitting unrestricted stocking enable traders with deep pockets to hoard essential commodities and inflate prices. Citing past onion shortages, he argued that garlic’s longer storage life makes it equally vulnerable to stockpiling.
Nagraj urged the Centre to prioritise farmers and consumers, exclude agriculture from the proposed India-US trade agreement, and work with the state government on drought relief. He also criticised the focus on Dasara celebrations while farmers face crop losses, urging the Chief Minister to send ministers to drought-hit districts to assess conditions and recommend relief.
With supplies expected to improve only towards the end of the year, consumers may continue to face high prices, while farmers remain caught between escalating input costs, water scarcity and uncertain yields.
