Ooty: The price of high-quality Ooty garlic has seen a significant drop in the market, falling to ₹80 per kilogram. Garlic cultivated in various parts of the Nilgiris district is auctioned at markets in Ooty and Mettupalayam, from where it is distributed to other parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The sharp decline in price is being attributed to the arrival of large quantities of cheaper garlic from Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, as well as an increase in local production. Ooty garlic, which has traditionally fetched higher prices due to strong demand, had reached up to ₹600 per kilogram a year ago. However, prices have been steadily falling over the past few months. Two months ago, it was ₹200 per kilogram, and recently it plummeted to ₹80.

The steep fall in price has left farmers in a difficult situation, with earnings insufficient even to cover cultivation costs.