Kerala: Amid Vegetable price surge; IMD predicts heavy rains

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The weather department on Monday predicted above-normal monsoon conditions going forward, even as the state received a 61 percent deficiency in rainfall in the month of June. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the state experienced one of the lowest rainfall levels in the last 123 years.

As of July 2, the state received 241.2 mm of rainfall, whereas the average rainfall for the month is 648.3 mm (as per IMD stats). The last time Kerala received rainfall levels lower than this year was during 1962 and 1966.

“The past three years have shown a decreasing trend in the amount of rainfall received in Kerala. This is mainly due to changing climate patterns across the globe. However, we are expecting the rainfall to pick up in the coming days as there are clear signs indicating so. Heavy rainfall is expected in 9 districts of Kerala over the next 4 days, including Kasaragod, Kannur, Idukki, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Wayanad,” said K Rajeev, Meteorologist at the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).

During 2022, the state received 1736.6 mm of rainfall from June to September (South West period), which was 14 percent less than normal. In 2021, the state received 1718.8 mm of rainfall, which was 16 percent less than normal, and in 2020, the state received 2228 mm of rainfall, which was 9 percent higher than normal.

According to the latest observation by the IMD and KSDMA, the Monsoon trough at mean sea level is south of its normal position. The off-shore trough at mean sea level runs from the south Maharashtra coast to the Kerala coast. A cyclonic circulation lies over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal in the middle levels, and another cyclonic circulation is present over the north Andaman Sea in lower levels.

Inadequate storage facility at procurement site a reason for price rise

Low arrivals of vegetables from the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra due to harsh weather conditions have led to skyrocketing prices of tomatoes, green chilies, and onions in the markets of Kerala. Traders at the Palayam market in Trivandrum attribute the price rise to waterlogging and inadequate storage facilities in the concerned states.

“The prices of tomatoes at the market today are Rs 110 per kilogram, and onions cost Rs 85, while green chilies are priced at Rs 29 for 100 grams. The prices increase overnight due to the shortage of arrivals at the market. The footfall at the market has also fallen due to the limited supply. This situation is expected to continue for the next three weeks,” said KT Manoharan, a retailer based at the Connemara market in the capital city.

Trader groups have been demanding the construction of storage facilities for vegetables in the neighboring states where the procurement takes place. Traders believe that the lack of storage facilities leads to damage to vegetables, making them unfit for sale in the market.

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“We have been demanding that the government construct storage facilities in the concerned states where vegetables are procured. When vegetables are procured in large quantities, there needs to be a storage facility at the respective place or in our state. This initiative should be taken by the government. Instead of implementing such an initiative, the government is providing subsidies to crops that do not have a major yield in the state,” said SS Manoj, state president of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi.

Prediction of heavy rains in the coming months and the rising vegetable prices will continue to be a major challenge before the state government to ensure the demand-supply chain of vegetables and fruits are under control.

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