Extreme temperatures, pest damage crops, veggie prices to go up

PUNE: Get ready to pay more for vegetables in the coming days. Extreme temperatures of 40-42°C in many parts of the country have damaged crops and sparked a surge in aphid (plant-sucking pest) infestations, severely impacting vegetable production.
Aphids thrive in extreme summer heat, feeding on plant sap and spreading viruses that cause diseases, further damaging crops.
Shriram Gadhave, president of Vegetable Growers Association of India, told TOI: "Almost all vegetables have been affected. The heat and pests have severely affected plant tissues, weakening the entire crop ecosystem."
The impact has been widespread, with cucumber, beans, tomatoes, brinjal and other common vegetables showing significant damage. "We typically see some pest issues during summer months, but this summer has been particularly severe, with the impact being much more pronounced compared to the last few years," Gadhave said.
Farmers pointed out that the combination of extreme heat and increased pest activity had created a perfect recipe for crop failure. "Certain pests thrive during extreme summer conditions, leading to a rise in fruit drop incidence. Whatever crop remains has poor quality. My production has dropped by 60%," said Jhambuvant Ghodake, a grower in Maharashtra's Solapur. Extreme heat has caused visible burn damage to exposed fruits like cucumbers, tomatoes and brinjals.