Already feeling the pinch due to skyrocketing onion prices,Delhiites have to additionally cope with sharp rise in cost of garlic which is ruling at Rs 250-280 a kg in retail. Prices of garlic,used for flavouring various dishes and used as an important ingredient in Ayurvedic medicines,have risen sharply at Rs 250-280 a kg now compared to Rs 160-180 a kg a month back,trade sources said. An important bulb crop,Garlic is selling at Rs 120-170 a kg in the wholesale now against Rs 80-120 a month ago,Vice-President,Garlic Merchants Association,Azadpur market,Jitendra Khurana said. Bulb crops are a crop grouping that includes all of the Allium species except chives. Bulb crops include onions (dry and green),leeks and garlic. Khurana attributed rise in prices of garlic to drop in production to the tune of 30 per cent in 2010 in the bulk producing states of Madhya Pradesh,Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh mainly due to unseasonal rains. President of the Garlic Association,Surendra Budhi Raj pointed to large-scale export of garlic to Pakistan which has triggered shortage in the domestic markets. "Heavy export of garlic to Pakistan between April to June this year has resulted in shortage of the spice in the domestic markets," Budhi Raj added. India though ranks second in area (86,000 hectares) under garlic cultivation,its position is third in production (3,50,000 tonnes). China ranks first in area and production of garlic. Madhya Pradesh is the leading garlic producing state accounting for more than 35 per cent of area and 38 per cent of production. India exports garlic to Sri Lanka,Bangladesh,Pakistan and Arabian countries. Khurana said the upward spiral of garlic prices in Delhi is also due to rise in demand in the winter season besides shortfall in supply in Azadpur market (Asia's biggest fruit & vegetables market). Against arrival of 70-80 tonnes of garlic daily a month's back,the supply has dropped to 20-30 tonnes now,he said. Khurana and Budhi Raj said the supply crunch of garlic (hence price rise) is expected to continue till fresh produce makes way to the national capital from February next year when the crop will be harvested. Garlic is sown in September-October and is harvested in February-March.
