Kerala's Onam crops fail as monsoon falters
Weak monsoon and flooding in Kerala caused massive crop losses, disrupting Onam harvest festival and driving up prices for staples.
Farmers and citizens across Kerala are buying traditional Onam feasts from restaurants instead of preparing them at home. This shift follows massive agricultural losses estimated at around ₹127 crores, as reported by the state's Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers' Welfare.
For the first time in her life, 72-year-old P. Vijayalakshmi purchased a ready-to-eat "packet Onam sadhya." She says her own crops perished in torrential rain. The start of the ten-day festival in mid-August was marked not by bustling produce stalls but by hotels selling packet feasts for ₹250 to ₹1000.
Crop losses quantify climate impact
Vinu A. Muthukuzhi, a farmer in Kalliyoor, points to the remnants of his plantain farm destroyed on August 2. He estimates his loss at ₹40,000. He is one of 45,904 farmers officially impacted. V. Manoharan Chettiyar, CEO of the Sangamaithri farmers' collective, says banana procurement fell from 11 tonnes daily last year to hardly one tonne this Onam.
E.S. Biju, Secretary of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Samathi, states market prices have increased by 30% from last year. He provides a specific breakdown of Onam price hikes.
| Item | Price Increase Compared to Last Onam |
|---|---|
| Vegetables and rice | Around 30% |
| Nendran banana | 100% |
| Coconut oil | 25% |
R.P. Balachandran Nair, a vegetable farmer, says climate change is delaying his harvest until after the festival when prices are lower. S. Saradha, head of Vegetable Science at Vellayani's College of Agriculture, confirms climate change is now delaying germination, flowering, and harvest.
A deficient monsoon disrupts patterns
From June 1 to August 15, Kerala suffered a rainfall deficit of 23%. Rainfall fell from a normal 1,556.2 mm to 1,213.2 mm, according to the India Meteorological Department. Meteorologist M.G. Manoj says the departure was in the "deficient" range.
After a dry July, heavy rain and floods in early August destroyed paddy in several districts, says State Agriculture Minister T. Siddique. A study from the Bharathapuzha river basin warned that increased flood intensity and droughts would require adaptation strategies for paddy production. Farmer Vinu A. Muthukuzhi questions who will bear the cost, noting most small farmers operate on leased land with high-interest loans.
Flowers and plastic substitutions
Flower production for the traditional "pookalam" welcome carpets was also affected. Despite damage from heavy rain, V. Bindu, President of Pallichal gram panchayat, says farmers were not economically affected due to rising market prices. The price of marigold rose from ₹100 per kg last year to ₹140-₹150 this year.
According to news reports, Kerala imported 150 tonnes of flowers from Tamil Nadu this season, up from 100 tonnes last year. Flower shops and traders also sold plastic flowers at lower prices than the highly priced natural blooms.
Meteorologist M.G. Manoj warns that if Kerala doesn't get enough rain in August and September, it could lead to a drought next summer similar to 2015-16. He says a stronger El Niño is acting on top of an already warmer climate system.
