The soaring vegetable prices are taking a toll on the common man as well as restaurants, hotels and dhabas. The prices in the retail markets continue to rule high in the range of Rs 60-80/kg or higher across the country.
Cauliflower is priced at Rs 100-120 per kg while coriander at Rs 300 per kg. Onion is ruling at Rs 60 per kg whereas tomato is available in the range of Rs 60-80/kg. This despite the Government’s measures to boost onion and tomato puree supply via Mother Dairy’s Safal outlets.
Similarly, the rates of cauliflower, lemons, spinach, radish, bottle gourd, green mustard, and coriander leaves have continued to rise since August. Lemons are being sold at Rs 120 per kg.
The skyrocketing vegetable prices have hit hard all sections of the society. The price rise is seen as a result of demand supply mismatch and traders and farmers say there will be no relief from soaring prices till November-end.
Spinach (palak) is being sold at Rs 70-80 per kg and the rate of wild spinach (bathua) is 70-80 per kg. The same was being sold at Rs 40 a kg till last month. The rate of cauliflower is Rs 90 per kg. Bitter gourd (karela) is being sold at Rs 50 a kg while Bottle gourd (laukee) at Rs 30 a kg. Capsicum (Shimla mirch) is being sold at Rs 70-80 a kg, cluster beans (gwar fali) at Rs 80 a kg, lady finger at Rs 40 a kg and brinjal at Rs 60 per kg.
According to trade experts, mainly two factors created shortages and price rise. First, delayed arrival of monsoon and resultant delay in sowing of kharif crop, and second, significant rain at the time of harvest in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in August/September.
Traders and farmers claim the erratic monsoon and flooding in various parts of the country have impacted pan-India connectivity, resulting in an increase in transportation costs and disruption in supply. According to traders in Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), the prices of vegetables in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka and the regions have shot up and there will be no relief to the people till arrival of the new crops from November onwards.
Worried over skyrocketing onion prices, State-owned trading company MMTC Ltd has issued a tender seeking bids to import 2,000 tonnes of onions by October-end with a price cap of $352 per tonne.
Officials said that tomato producing States have been regularly advised to interact with agricultural produce market committees (APMCs), traders and transporters to ensure regular supply. The same is being reiterated to four major tomato producing States namely, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, to ensure prices normalise and supply is augmented immediately.
Normally, tomato production is around 20 million tonnes a year. Thankfully, Tomato is a year-long crop and the country has enough supply to meet its requirement.
