First it was onion that brought tears in the eyes and then it was arhar dal. And even before the price of the much sought-after pulse could come down, price of mustard oil also started go upward. And now prices of green vegetables are also skyrocketing burning a hole in the common man’s pocket. Because of this, as days go by, more and more items are vanishing from Delhiites shopping list as well as from their kitchen.
In a reality check conducted by The Pioneer, it found out that the prices of most essential commodities have shot up in the national Capital due to which, the common Delhiite is running out of options to feed his/her family. The prices of green vegetables, including that of peas, spinach, gourds of all varieties and mustard leaves that are the winter season entrants, are said to be pinching the pockets of common man as they have reached a level where a middle-income man is not able to afford them.
“Previously we used to wait for seasonal vegetables but as years are passing, prices of vegetables seem to be unaffordable and being a housewife, I have to manage everything. So I avoid buying these expensive vegetables and rather cook vegetables that my pocket allows,” said a resident of Tilak Nagar, Smriti Pandey.
Delhi is a place where percentage of locally grown vegetables is less than what is imported from other States likes Himachal Pradesh. Also, the price of vegetables that are being imported is higher than what is grown here, said State Agriculture board member and Azadpur Mandi President Rajendra Sharma. However, the prices not only shoot up due to heavy rainfall but it depends on who actually is selling on what price, added Sharma.
Wholesale prices of vegetables tend to be affordable, if not nominal. But market prices of vegetables like round gourd, capsicum, spinach and mustard have gone up significantly. Where round gourds (household name- ‘Tinda’) were used to be sold at Rs50-60/kg, now it being sold at Rs80/kg in the market. Similarly price of peas that used to be somewhere around Rs50-60/kg, has now reached Rs110-120/kg. Price of capsicum has reached Rs50/kg whereas mustard leaves are being sold at Rs40/kg. Vegetables, including Brinjal, cabbage and cauliflower are being sold at Rs40/kg, Rs30/kg and Rs30/kg respectively.
Explaining the price gap between wholesale market and that of retailer’s, Sharma said, “With the present technology, we get to know the market price of vegetables on which retailers are selling in the mRsarket. We also keep asking them as to why there is such a gap between buying and selling. Several discussions have taken place to impose regulation on the margin that the retailers keep while selling vegetables to the consumers. The Government should set a price beyond which the vegetables must not be sold.”
He further added that prices will increase, if consumers’ standard of living is increasing. “India is developing. Prices will not go down. However, it shall not pinch them,” he said.
