Garlic harvesting has gathered pace in the Trans-Giri region of Sirmaur district where farmers are busy digging out the crop and sorting the produce even in scorching heat conditions. Several growers have also started transporting their produce to vegetable markets, encouraged by better prices being offered this season. Farmers are satisfied with remunerative returns from garlic cultivation this year, describing it as a profitable crop for the region. On Friday, garlic prices in the vegetable markets of Solan and Rajgarh ranged between Rs 60 per kilogram and Rs 150 per kilogram, depending on their quality. Compared to last year, the improved market rates have significantly boosted farmers’ income.
Though the crop had matured around 15 days ago, untimely rainfall and strong winds delayed harvesting operations in many parts of Sirmaur district. According to the Agriculture Department, around 20 per cent of the crop suffered damage this year due to unseasonal weather conditions.
Progressive farmers, including Mila Ram Sharma, Vidya Devi, Madho Ram, Vicky, Satish and Rakesh, said that persistent moisture in fields caused garlic bulbs to darken in colour and affected their size and quality. They added that disease infestation in some areas also impacted the overall production.
Garlic cultivation plays a major role in the agrarian economy of the district and Sirmaur is considered one of the leading garlic-producing regions of the state. The produce from the district remains in high demand in major markets such as Chennai, Karnataka and Maharashtra and from there it is exported to foreign markets.
Agriculture Department officials said that garlic cultivation was done on around 4,000 hectares in the Trans-Giri belt, generating an annual production of around 70,000 metric tonnes. Farmers in the region mainly cultivate the Parvati variety while some also procure seeds from Kullu.
Commission agent Vinod Sharma said that the arrival of the fresh produce in mandis was increasing and prices might witness a slight decline in the coming days. However, premium-quality garlic was at present fetching up to Rs 150 per kilogram, ensuring good returns for growers.
Known for its rich flavour and superior quality, the Trans-Giri garlic is also widely used in Ayurvedic medicines. Large-scale cultivation is undertaken in areas such as Ronhat, Sangrah, Nohradhar, Renuka and several other parts of the district.
