French Bean Glut Hits Farmers Hard as Prices Plunge in Himachal Markets
Farmers in Himachal Pradesh are facing disappointment as the price of French beans has dropped sharply in local markets. Daily consignments from the lower regions of Junga tehsil are arriving at the state’s major vegetable hubs—Solan and Dhali—but the surge in supply has led to a steep fall in prices.
Initially, French beans fetched up to ₹120 per kilogram. However, with increased arrivals from across the state, prices dropped to ₹35–₹50 per kilogram on Saturday. Just a week ago, the highest rate was ₹70. The bumper harvest, thanks to favorable rainfall in May, has contributed to this oversupply.
Progressive farmers like Pritam Thakur, Chanchal Verma, and Daulat Ram Mehta expressed concern, saying that unless prices stabilize around ₹50 per kilogram, many growers won’t even recover their input costs for seeds and labor. They explained that there are two main varieties of French beans: one with tassels, which sells for less, and the more desirable “Butia” or “Phalguni” variety, which is tassel-free and commands better prices.
According to Thakur, French beans are a relatively quick crop, maturing in just 60 days and requiring minimal labor—making them a popular choice among farmers in the region.
In Junga, much like in Solan, farmers have increasingly turned to cash crops like French beans, tomatoes, garlic, and capsicum, which have significantly boosted local agricultural incomes.
Transporter Pradeep Bragta confirmed that the influx of beans from other parts of the state has pushed prices down. Even the best-quality beans are now selling for ₹35–₹50 per kilogram in Solan and Dhali. He noted that pricing largely depends on quality, but on average, farmers are still managing to earn a reasonable return—though not as high as they had hoped.
