Rains affect onam harvest and sales for farmers in Kochi

KOCHI: This Onam season, most businesses made hay while the sun shone. However, continuous rainfall throughout the last three months affected the cultivation and harvest of flowers and vegetables in the district.Initial estimates from the agriculture department show that the total horticultural production was 30,600 metric tonnes, cultivated in 1,851.04 hectares, mainly aimed at the Onam market. Officials said, yet there was no glut in the market and no major shortage. Last year, though the total area cultivated was around 1,000 hectares, very heavy rainfall destroyed several crops. The total production was a little over 105 metric tonnes in 2024 in the district.With the district receiving 1,707.3 mm of rainfall this season from June 1 to September 5, floral cultivation was affected. It also impacted some horticultural crops as they were due for harvest during the peak period when Onam festivities began.This was mainly because heavy rainfall was recorded in the second half of June and on some days in July. August rainfall was fairly sufficient to support the crop, which farmers felt would allow them to harvest a good crop.

According to the IMD weekly rainfall data, during the last week of the Onam sale period, the district received 134 mm of rain, which is 76% excess.Agriculture officials said that despite adverse conditions, several farmers made extra efforts, such as putting up rain shelters to prevent crop losses. “During our four-day agriculture department market sale that was organised until Thursday, we kept our stock status updated online in all the 167 markets.

In case of any shortage in any market, we sourced it from other centres. The Horticorp was procuring the excess crop and distributing it in other blocks and districts,” said Indu P Nair, Principal Agriculture Officer.Officials said that unlike in previous years, tuber production was high, with elephant foot yam or Chena recording a surplus. Others like banana (Nendran), cowpea, ridge gourd, and snake gourd recorded good produce.

The procurement from farmers was 10% more than the market price and sold at 30% less than the prevailing market rate.In keeping with the govt's support for safe-to-eat foods, organic produce from certified farmers was procured at a 20% higher rate. Of the 167 markets, 97 markets were under the Krishi Bhavan, with the rest managed by VFPCK and Horticorp.One of the main attractions was the sample sales of value-added products under the brand name ‘Keralaagro’.

This is the flagship scheme of the agriculture department to ensure that farmers get more price from the value added too.Apart from turmeric powder, banana chips, and cardamom sourced from Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, and Idukki, the stalls saw sample sales of unique items like Chena Ada from Kollam, ginger candy from Ernakulam, chocolate coconut chips and coconut lemonade from Thrissur, ripe mango pickle from Palakkad, passion fruit squash from Wayanad, Nadan curry koot, and fried coconut masala from Malappuram, and Kandari honey from Kasargod.The Keralaagro brand is an interesting combination of various powders, juices, snacks, jams, and products made by different farmer groups from their own produce. “We have asked the respective Krishi Bhavans to test and brand them after checking the validity of the products. This is mainly aimed at ensuring that farmers get extra income,” agriculture minister P Prasad told TOI during an interaction.Ekm agriculture officials said they also sourced the GI-tagged products of our district, namely Vazhakulam pineapple and Pokkali rice products, in selected locations. “One of the best outlets of millet cafes has been set up in Ernakulam district. We also sourced some millet products in selected outlets,” a senior official said.