Belagavi: Onion growers across Karnataka, including Belagavi district, are experiencing significant losses due to a sharp fall in wholesale prices, unseasonal rains, and widespread crop diseases. In response to the mounting distress, the state govt has decided to propose that the Centre announce a minimum support price (MSP).According to official data, onion crop over 1.8 lakh hectares were damaged across the state due to erratic weather and flooding. In Belagavi district alone, of the 7,350 hectares under onion cultivation, crops on 3,048 hectares suffered extensive damage.With wholesale prices dropping to Rs 500–900 per quintal, farmers say they are unable to recover even the amount spent on cultivation at this price. The district-level committee for horticultural crops recommended an MSP between Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,500 per quintal to the state govt to stabilise the market and check middlemen’s interference.“Unseasonal rains damaged onion crops in about 3,048 hectares of Belagavi district. Farmers suffered severe losses due to the price fall. Although the MSP decision may take some time, we have already begun recording details of the damaged crop for the loss compensation survey,” said Mahantesh Murgod, deputy director of horticulture department, speaking to the TOI.Under the crop loss compensation scheme, farmers will receive Rs 8,500 per hectare for horticultural crop loss in rainfed areas and Rs 17,000 per hectare in irrigated areas from the Centre. In addition, the state govt announced an extra Rs 8,500 per hectare compensation for both categories of land, Murgod added.During the Kharif season, onion was cultivated on nearly 3 lakh hectares across districts such as Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Chitradurga, and Kolar. However, about 40% of the crop was destroyed during Sept and Oct due to unseasonal rain and pest attacks.Meanwhile, horticulture minister Shivanand Patil said the state govt would soon forward a proposal to the central govt seeking approval for the MSP, as the final decision rests with the Centre. Officials and farmer groups hope that the MSP and compensation package will help stabilise prices and provide timely relief to distressed farmers.
