The prices of vegetables show a declining trend at Gandhi Market here, one of the biggest markets in the district. Tiruchi district is home to a number of vegetables. While banana is raised in 9,000 hectares, onion covers about 3,000 hectares, tapioca 6,000 hectares, and other vegetables, including brinjal, tomato, chillies, snake gourd, drumstick, and lemon are raised in total in about 2,000 hectares.
On Thursday, even at the retail level, tomato was quoted around Rs.14 a kg (Rs.20 for 1.5 kg), drumstick Rs.20 a kg, brinjal Rs.10 to 12 a kg, ladies’ finger Rs.10 a kg, onion Rs.12 a kg, green chillies Rs.12 a kg, ribbed gourd Rs.15 a kg, cauliflower Rs.15 a piece, cabbage Rs.10 a kg, potato Rs.23 a kg, banana Rs.10 for six pieces, and coriander Rs.5 a bundle.
Except onion, the price of other vegetables are said to be far lower than what it was a few days ago.
Official sources, who do not want to be identified, attribute this to a number of farmers switching over to vegetables from paddy as water has become a serious issue in the region. “It is quite possible that they might feel that they would be able to manage with the ground water if they were to raise only vegetables,” they added. In addition, there could have been substantial arrivals from various other places too.
N.Selvaraj, a vegetable farmer from Devanoor in Thathaiyengarpet block, says the first reason is that there are no Hindu marriages during the entire month of Aadi (which commenced during the third week of July) and there would be hardly any major function during this period.
He points out that apart from a number of farmers switching over to vegetable crops, the major reason for the current trend is that quite a few have gone in for drip irrigation which has been quite successful.
“Whoever has opted for drip irrigation is virtually able to get double the yield,” he asserts.
According to him, farmers who could harvest hardly 10 tonnes per acre of tapioca under conventional irrigation method are now able to get as much as 20 tonnes.
“In Thathaiyengarpet block of Musiri taluk alone, at least 500 to 600 acres, usually well-irrigated areas, have already been selected to go in for drip irrigation with the help of the agriculture department. In addition, almost an equal area would come under drip irrigation using the private sources of the farmers. This is used for raising turmeric and onion also. The price of onion touched even Rs.2 a kg during the third week of July,” he says.
Mr.Selvaraj, who is also a seed farmer, says that water scarcity has already forced a substantial number of farmers to switch over from paddy. “In our depot at Thathaiyenagarpet, we used to sell 25 tonnes of paddy seeds this time every year. This year we have not been able to sell even 10 tonnes which is a clear indication of the hesitation of the agriculturists to go in for paddy.”
He says farmers are extremely grateful to Prof. Vadivel of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University for encouraging them to take up cultivation of onion and banana instead of sticking to the traditional paddy. “He has definitely played a crucial role in our prosperity,” he adds.
The unexpected boon to the farmers of the district this year is the cultivation of coleus, which has medicinal properties. Against the cultivation cost of about Rs.50, 000 per acre, it is able to fetch as much as Rs.2.5 lakh as private companies have entered into a contract promising Rs.25,000 per tonne. These companies are exporting the same as powder. “Already coleus has been raised in 60 acres and contract has been signed for 300 more acres,” Mr.Selvaraj adds.
