Afghan Garlic Arrivals in Maharashtra and South India Prevent Prices from Crossing Rs 500/kg

Mumbai, 25th November 2024: Garlic prices have soared to record levels across the country due to a nationwide shortage. To stabilise prices, garlic from Afghanistan has been imported and is now being sold in markets across Mumbai, Delhi, and South India. According to traders, these imports have prevented retail prices from skyrocketing to over ₹500 per kilogram. Currently, retail garlic prices have reached ₹400 per kilogram and are expected to remain high for the next two months until fresh arrivals begin.

The shortage stems from reduced garlic production last season. Farmers in major garlic-producing states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab shifted to other crops after garlic failed to fetch favourable prices for the past two years. This reduction in cultivated area led to a significant drop in supply. The garlic season, which typically starts in January, saw limited stock last year, contributing to the current scarcity.

Sameer Raikar, a garlic trader at the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard in Pune, explained that the current arrivals of garlic are far below market demand. He noted that five to seven trucks of garlic are arriving daily from other states, but this is insufficient to meet the needs. Raikar expects prices to decrease after February, as the new season’s garlic arrives in larger quantities. Encouraged by the high prices this year, farmers in northern states have cultivated garlic on a larger scale, which should help stabilise the market in the coming months.