Fall in prices of crops puts Wayanad farmers in a fix

Low demand for ginger in major markets

Sharp fall in prices, poor demand for short-term crops and various diseases affecting major crops have put farmers in Wayanad district, a major coffee and spices growing region in the State, in a fix. Only a few weeks remain to start ginger harvest but the produce has no demand in the market owing to uncertainties after the pandemic. The spot price of ginger in Wayanad market on Monday was ₹500 a bag (60 kg) as against ₹1,800 a bag during the corresponding period last year. The price had touched ₹10,000 a bag three years ago. The price of ‘nendran’ variety of plantain in the market was ₹13 a kg on Monday. It was ₹28 a kg last year.