The late kharif crop of politically sensitive onions, which are harvested between January and March has suffered the most damage says Indian Express rural affairs editor Harish Damodaran in a report explaining the impact of unseasonal rains in most parts of the country. This onion crop accounts for a third of total output, he says. More serious is the likely impact on rabi onion crop which is harvested between mid-April and mid-July and accounts for half of total production. A clear picture will emerge in a few days, a Mother Dairy executive told Damodaran in the third week of March. Pulses, mustard, coriander, jeera and vegetables are among the worst hit.
(Photo shows damage to onion crop in Nashik. Photo courtesy: CNN-IBN