The farmers of garlic, a major crop in Kanthallur, have suffered heavily due to a fungal disease that spread widely a month before the harvest season began.
There is a considerable drop in production and the size of the bulbs is very small, say farmers. Kanthallur garlic is considered best for use in pickle industry, though the Chinese variety is mostly preferred for in-house use for its big sized bulbs.
According to S. Maheendran, a medium-scale farmer, the main reason for the crop loss was the change in the climatic condition after the seeds were sown. He said that the misty rain, a feature of the rain shadow area of Kanthallur, failed in June and July.
Sekhar, another farmer in Puthur area, said that the disease that caused yellowing of the plant leaves at the final stage of growth spread in the entire area.
He said that he expected only half of the average production this season.
Almost 40 hectares of land are under garlic cultivation in Kanthallur. The average production was 25 to 35 quintal per hectare. The farmers say that this season they received only an average of 15 quintal per hectare.
The farmers here depend on climatic conditions and the prime harvesting season began a week ago. They also complained that the prices which ruled between Rs.150 and Rs, 200 per kilogram fell to the range of Rs.70-Rs.100.
Shekhar said that the prices were, however, better than that of many seasons. It is the production loss that has affected them badly, he said. Though there are usually eight to 12 bulbs in a garlic cluster, it has fallen to three to eight, farmers say.
As the shape has been affected, the businessmen offer only lower prices citing poor quality.
The worst affected are those who cultivated the high quality Mettupalayam variety. The prices for the Singapore variety are better, they said.
According to an official at the Marayur Krishi Bhavan it was the basal rot that had proved to be the villain. He said that the disease was caused by the changes in climatic conditions. It was only at the final stage of the growth that the disease was noticed and effective remedial measures could not be taken, he said.
