Wed Sep 03 17:37:36 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Karmarajar Fruits and Vegetable Market in Pavoorchathram, Tamil Nadu, a major supplier to Kerala, has experienced a 50% business loss this Onam season due to the heavy rains in Kerala. This market normally sends up to 800 tonnes of produce daily during Onam, but that’s been halved to just 400 tonnes. Onion and bellary onion growers are particularly affected. The traders have little hope for a significant increase in demand before Onam.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Rains Drench Onam Sales for Tamil Nadu Farmers**

**TENKASI, India – September 3, 2025** – The Karmarajar Fruits and Vegetable Market in Pavoorchathram, Tamil Nadu, a crucial hub for supplying produce to Kerala, is reeling from a significant setback this Onam season. Incessant rains in Kerala have dampened demand, resulting in a staggering 50% drop in business for the market, which typically sees brisk sales leading up to the festival.

Known as the “Vegetable Basket” of southern Tamil Nadu, the Pavoorchathram market usually dispatches up to 800 tonnes of fruits and vegetables daily to Kerala during the Onam season, catering to major towns from Thiruvananthapuram to Palakkad. This year, however, that figure has plummeted to just 400 tonnes.

“The recent downpour and continuing incessant rains in Kerala has badly affected the business,” explained K. Kutralingam, a trader at the Karmarajar Market. “Kerala traders are not certain about their sale due to the continuing rain, and hence we’ve suffered 50% business loss this year.”

The situation is particularly dire for onion and bellary onion growers. With Onam celebrations set for Friday, traders are bracing for a disappointing season, as they anticipate little recovery in demand in the remaining hours.

This setback echoes the challenges faced during last year’s Onam, which was marred by landslides in Wayanad, further impacting the demand for produce. The economic impact of the Kerala rains is being felt keenly by the farmers and traders in Tamil Nadu, highlighting the interconnectedness of the region’s agricultural economies.

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