New Delhi: Retail prices of all commodities are increasing rapidly even after the coronavirus is affecting thousands around the world without batting an eye. The list of items that have sky-rocketed their prices majorly includes vegetables. The staple food of every citizen of the country is on its way to becoming a food only for the elite. The prices of all of its kinds are now seeing a shocking increase of 25 to 200 percent.
Among these, tomatoes have recorded the highest surge in its price. According to vegetable traders, the increased cost of these is to be blamed on crop failure during the rainy season.
Azadpur Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) chairman Adil Ahmad Khan said that the prices of most green vegetables have registered an increase in the past month, due to reduced arrivals during the rainy season.
According to Khan, another reason for the rise in prices of vegetables is due to increased diesel prices, signifying the increased transportation costs. “Vegetable traders point out that the cost of transportation of vegetables has increased due to diesel being expensive,” he said.
However, some retailers are also selling their stock at a higher price even when they do not give need to pay for the transportation costs. One of such sellers is Greater Noida’s Munendra. He charges the regular high price for his vegetables which he grows at his farm. This farm, which is only a kilometer away from his store has the cultivation of gourd, brinjal, bitter gourd, cucumber, lady’s finger, etc. Munendra said that the reason for these high prices is due to the rainy season when crops get destroyed and they do not get any harvest.
Vijay Ahuja, an agent at Okhla Mandi, said that in the rainy season, the arrival of vegetables reduces every year, due to which the prices keep rising.
This is seen in every city of the country and especially those where the rain stays for a longer time. A comparison of the vegetable prices in the month of June and July shows the increasing trajectory of these with that of January or February.
Prices in the month of June (Rs per kg):
Potatoes – 20-25
Cabbage – 30-40
Tomatoes – 20-30
Onion – 20-25
Gourd – 20
Cucumber – 20
Pumpkin – 10-15
Brinjal – 20
Capsicum – 60
Prices in the month of July (Rs per kg)
Potatoes – 30-35
Cabbage – 60-80
Tomatoes – 60-80
Onion – 25-30
Gourd – 30
Cucumber – 50
Pumpkin – 20-30
Brinjal – 40
Capsicum – 80
Delhi has recorded upto Rs. 80 per kilo retail price of tomatoes while Kolkata storm’s aftermath lead to doubling of the vegetable prices.
Prices of vegetables in telangana rose an all-time high as the major regions supplying vegetables to the state registered increased prices in their respected states as well. Telangana receives vegies from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Moreover, officials too agree on the upward curve of the vegetables amid the pandemic. “It is a lean season for vegetables. Telangana receives vegetables from other places. However, due to the lockdown, arrival of some vegetables has been slow, resulting in a sharp rise in prices,” said Lakshmi Bai, director, agricultural marketing department.
