Price of Kanthalloor-Vattavada garlic plummets in Idukki

Farmers from the cool-season vegetable hub of Kanthalloor and Vattavada in Idukki experienced a dull Onam after the price of Kanthalloor-Vattavada garlic, a traditional product from Anchunad village in Idukki, fell to a low level in the market. According to farmers, the price of garlic dropped to ₹50 to ₹80 per kg, as against the ₹400 to ₹600 per kg last year.

K. Jayaprakash, a garlic farmer from Vattavada, said that the farmers expected a favourable price and market during the Onam season. “But the season witnessed a price fall, and it dashed the hopes of garlic farmers” said Mr Jayaprakash.

According to farmers, they depend on the Vadukappetty special garlic market in Tamil Nadu for the sale of the product. “After the price increase, the farmers from Kodaikanal and Ooty in Tamil Nadu were also engaged in garlic farming, and it also resulted in the large-scale arrival of garlic in the open market,” said Mr Jayaprakash.

Sojan P. G., the secretary of the Kanthalloor winter vegetable farmers’ society, stated that the society used to purchase winter vegetables and garlic directly from farmers every year. “But the government failed to provide the money to farmers promptly. Now, no government agency is procuring vegetables or garlic from Kanthalloor. The farmers fully depend on outside vendors to sell their products,” said Mr. Sojan.

According to farmers, the hill garlic (mala poondu) and Sigapu Poondu are the two traditional garlic varieties cultivated in the Vattavada and Kanthalloor regions. It is estimated that nearly 75% of the farming area in the region is under garlic cultivation. “An assured market and better price were the major attractions behind the increasing garlic cultivation in these areas. But the present market shows that there is no such hope for farmers,” said Mr Sojan.

In December 2022, the traditional Kanthalloor-Vattavada Veluthulli was granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.