Belagavi farmers destroy cabbage crop as prices crash

Pic: A farmer in Kadaloli village of Belagavi taluk is destroying the cabbage crop using a rotavatorBelagavi: Reeling under a steep crash in cabbage prices and a near-total absence of buyers, distressed farmers across Belagavi and Khanapur taluks have begun destroying fully grown crops by running rotavators over their fields.Farmers attribute the crisis partly to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which they say has led to a ripple effect on local markets, severely impacting vegetable demand. In villages such as Kadoli, Kakati, Honaga, Chandan Hosur, Jafarwadi, Goundwad, Belagundi, Handigund, Yallur, Uchgaon, Mucchandi, Waghmari and Turmuri, large quantities of cabbage are being left to rot, effectively turning into manure."Earlier, vegetables were bought not only by hotels and restaurants but also by street vendors operating pushcarts. Now, due to an LPG shortage, preparation of snacks and meals has reduced drastically, leading to a sharp fall in demand for vegetables," said farmer leader Appasaheb Desai.He added that produce from the region once enjoyed strong demand in neighbouring Maharashtra and Goa as well, but that market too has weakened. "We spend around 50 paise per sapling, requiring nearly 32,000 saplings per acre. Transport costs range between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000, while pesticide expenses go up to Rs 30,000-Rs 40,000. Despite such heavy investment, farmers are now struggling to even recover Rs 10,000 due to the price crash," Desai said, noting that cabbage, being a short-duration crop, is not covered under insurance.In the wholesale market, a 70-kg sack of cabbage is fetching barely Rs 100, while retail prices have plunged to Re 1-Rs 2 per piece. Just three months ago, cabbage was selling at Rs 40-Rs 50 per kg. Farmers say the situation deteriorated drastically within a fortnight of the conflict escalating.Mahantesh Murgod, joint director of the horticulture department, said vegetables are cultivated across nearly 9,000 hectares in Belagavi district. "We are aware that some farmers have started destroying their crops due to the sharp fall in prices," he said.