Amid rain pain, govt says veggie output enough for Onam

Only items such as big onion, shallot, tomato, potato, okra being purchased from other states, says agri dept | Govt to organise 2,000 Onam markets till Sept 4

- MANOJ VISWANATHAN @Kochi

DESPITE the best efforts of the state government in achieving self-sufficiency in vegetable production, farmers have been at the receiving end this Onam. Heavy rain that lashed the state over the past three months destroyed crops and shattered their hopes of a fruitful harvest. While integrated farming has helped increase the area under cultivation, there has been a decline in output.

However, the agriculture department says most of the demand for Onam will be met with domestic production, with only a few items such as big onion, shallot, tomato, potato, okra, etc., being purchased from other states.

The department will organise 2,000 vegetable markets across the state from September 1-4 to ensure the availability of vegetables at reasonable rates.