High Demand for Pahadi Garlic in South India
After weeks of relentless rain and storms, a sense of relief is finally settling over the garlic fields of Junga. Farmers, who had been anxiously waiting for the skies to clear, are now back in their fields, digging up their garlic crop and laying it out to dry under the long-awaited sun.
The garlic was ready for harvest nearly 15 days ago, but the untimely downpour delayed the process and left its mark. Excess moisture in the soil has caused the garlic bulbs to darken and their petals to bloom prematurely—an issue that’s now making it harder for farmers to sell their produce in the market.
Despite the setback, the spirit of the farming community remains strong. Much like their counterparts in Sirmaur, Junga’s farmers have turned garlic cultivation into a vital source of income. Progressive farmers like Surendra Thakur and Pritam Thakur shared that garlic from this region is especially prized in South Indian markets, not just for its flavor but also for its medicinal properties.
Vinod Sharma, a local trader in the Solan market, noted a surge in garlic arrivals. “Good quality garlic is currently fetching between ₹90 and ₹110 per kilogram,” he said, offering a glimmer of hope to those who managed to salvage their crop.
According to the Agriculture Department, garlic in Shimla district is primarily grown in four blocks—Mashobra, Basantpur, Rampur, and the Nerwa area of Chaupal—mostly of the Parvati variety. Around 21 hectares are under garlic cultivation in the lower regions of Shimla, yielding an average of 2,500 metric tons annually.
In Junga, however, garlic farming has taken root on a much larger scale, becoming a cornerstone of the local economy. As the sun shines once again on the hills, farmers are hopeful that their hard work will still pay off—despite nature’s recent challenges.
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