Storage shortage hits Karnataka’s onion farmers, may spike prices for consumers in lean season
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Hubballi: A shortage of adequate storage facilities in Karnataka is taking a toll on onion farmers, who are unable to secure fair prices for their produce, while consumers face inflated prices during the lean season.
Karnataka, the country’s second-largest onion producer after Maharashtra, boasts an average annual output of 38.91 lakh tonnes. However, the lack of central storage facilities discourages farmers from growing onions as a rabi or summer crop, despite this being the optimal season for cultivation due to reduced risk of onions catching diseases and better shelf life, as reported by Deccan Herald on Sunday.
On an average, Karnataka can store only 3.75 lakh tonnes of onion in its central storage facilities. “In spite of favourable conditions for onion cultivation, we are unable to meet the demand and Maharashtra is benefiting from this,” DH quoted B. Ravi Shankar, Secretary of the Potato-Onion Merchants’ Association, Bengaluru, as saying.
He stressed the need for at least one large storage facility, with a 10,000-tonne capacity, in every district. Such infrastructure, he argued, would encourage more farmers to grow onions during the rabi season and regulate prices during the lean period between October and November.
The dry regions of Karnataka like Vijayapura, Gadag, Ballari, Koppal, Dharwad, Belagavi, Chitradurga and Kolar are some of the major onion growing districts in the state. However, these districts lack large storage facilities.
Meanwhile, onion prices have decreased across APMCs in Karnataka due to a bumper yield this year. In Bengaluru, wholesale prices are ranging between Rs 14 and Rs 21 per kg, while retail prices hover around Rs 25 to Rs 28. On an average, onions are priced at Rs 40 a kg, and can spike to Rs 100 during the lean months.
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Amid relentless rain, fans wear white jersey to honour Virat Kohli the Test cricketer
Bengaluru, May 17 (PTI): 'Every single one of us loves you Virat Kohli. Thank you for making Red Ball cricket exciting again' -- read a huge banner unfurled by fans near the Roger Binny Stand.
Despite the relentless rain that washed out Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday became a beating theatre of white for one man — Virat Kohli, offering a fitting tribute to a cricketer who gave his everything for the format that is played in white.
It was an organic outpouring of affection for a player who placed Test cricket in the public conscience and was its most persuasive ambassador.
It was clear that the day belonged to Kohli as the fans queued up in white outside the stadium as early as 4.30 pm, carrying placards and wearing a white jersey with the famed No. 18 embossed on the back.
They wanted to catch a glimpse of Kohli, who generally sits in the front row of the team bus, hoping to get a glance back or a quick wave.
"Sir, avaru yavaga baruthare? (When will he come?)," an impatient fan would ask a group of scribes while walking through the ever-swelling crowd.
It was not just peak fandom. It mirrored the deep connection the city has developed with Kohli over the last 18 years.
All through these years, Kohli remained an unwavering RCBian, and the red and gold jersey was like a second skin for him.
"For me, the relationship and mutual respect that I have built with RCB over the years is the most valuable thing. Whether we win the trophy or not, it doesn't matter. This is my home," Kohli had said once.
In return, Bengaluru stayed loyal to Kohli even on times when the rest of the cricketing world derided him for his aggression or occasional petulance.
Kohli never had the pan-Indian God-like status of Sachin Tendulkar or was never adopted as 'Thala' as Chennai accepted MS Dhoni.
But he is as Bengalurean as anyone else, as indispensable to the city dwellers as a cup of morning coffee. Kohli has become their habit, an endearing addiction.
It's remarkable too. Karnataka has always been the hub of gentleman cricketers — from GR Viswanath to Anil Kumble to Javagal Srinath to Rahul Dravid, a proud lineage that matches the city's up-collared middle-class values.
But it wholeheartedly took an uber aggressive, non-Kannada speaking cricketer who is not hesitant to spit out a few expletives to the heart, and this strange wedlock should be studied from a socio-cultural angle.
Mo Bobat, the RCB team director, had touched upon that point, the Kohli-fan connection.
"He's about those special moments, those inspiring moments. He did that as captain, as a player, and we're all really proud of him. I'm sure the fans will show him lots of love this week when they see him again," Bobat had said.
However, the evening rains, part of the fast setting in monsoon in this part of the country, nearly undid their display of love.
But, the fans waited patiently — often chanting RCBEEE or Kooohli Kooohli.
Perhaps, it was a collective chant for the rains to move away and give them the chance for 'Kohli Darshan' — the RCB fans' version of 'Thala Darishanam', often used by Chennai Super Kings to describe Dhoni's sightings around the city.
But that moment never came as the skies opened up to washout the match between RCB and KKR.
The faithful had to contend with the visuals of a deeply thoughtful 'King' sitting in the dressing room that was often beamed on the big screen.
They welcomed those small crumbs of consolation with loud cheers, waving the RCB flags.
However, that's all there for them on a rain-drenched night.
But as Phil Collins famously sang there will be 'One More Night' for them to pay a more lively tribute to Kohli on May 23, when RCB face off against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
So, keep your whites dry Bengalurueans!
A fan of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli wears a number 18 white jersey, showing his stats and achievements, in his honour after he recently announced retirement from the test cricket, as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 T20 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders is delayed due to rain, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru | PC: PTI
