Mandi Updates: Wholesale Garlic Prices Soar Amid Low Production

Garlic prices are skyrocketing amid low production this rabi season. The data by the Agmarknet portal, run by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, shows an average month-on-month rise of around Rs 4,440 per quintal of garlic in wholesale markets. The prices of the close relative of onion are expected to cool down with new arrivals across mandis.

The wholesale average price of garlic in February in the key markets of India is Rs 24,453.3 per quintal, which is a substantial increase from Rs 20,013.38 in January. According to experts, this month-on-month rise in prices is due to the fall in area under cultivation of garlic this rabi season, leading to lower production. 

Gujarat, one of the major producers of garlic saw a whopping month-on-month increase in wholesale prices by Rs 8,222 per quintal to Rs 24,916, which is a rise of 49.25%. Another major garlic producer, Uttar Pradesh saw a rise of Rs 1,619 per quintal to Rs 14,407. 

However, the month-on-month increase was offset by a dip in prices of the bulbous crop in the largest producing state of Madhya Pradesh, where the wholesale prices dropped by Rs 4,941 per quintal to Rs 11,065 in February. In Rajasthan, as well, the wholesale prices of garlic dipped marginally by Rs 597 per quintal to Rs 16,185.

The pungent spice crop is grown in both kharif and rabi seasons. During kharif season, the crop is sown in June-July and harvested in October-November, and in rabi season, it is sown in September-November and cultivated in February-March.

For those interested in exploring the prices of various crops in their respective state markets, the official website [agmarknet.gov.in](https://agmarknet.gov.in/) provides a comprehensive list. Understanding the price dynamics of different crops and their quality assessment remains pivotal in navigating market fluctuations for farmers and traders alike.