The arrival of monsoon in the region may have given relief to Ranchi citizens reeling under water scarcity, but it has negatively affected the arrival of vegetables in the market.
Footpath Vendor-Hawker Association general secretary, Antia Das said, “Huge gap between demand and supply has pushed up prices. The quantity of green vegetables arriving in the city has almost come down to about one third of its normal rate. Due to rain the vegetables they store gets rotten out so these vendors’ everyday purchase and sale it”.
“Against average demand of 200 quintal of ladyfinger, only 50 quintals arrived in the market. Cluster beans requirement is 100 quintal, but only 30-40 quintal arrived. Other green vegetables too are falling short of actual requirement,” added Das.
“Prices would settle down in next 30 to 40 days with the arrival of new crop from nearby places. At present vegetables from places like Silli, Tutki, Tamar, Sulumjuda are arriving in Ranchi, triggering a price rise,” said Das.
local retail vegetable vendor in Nagababa Khatal vegetable market Aswini Kumar said, “I am selling ladyfinger at Rs.25 per kg against Rs.10 per kg fifteen days back. Tomato was available at Rs.10 per kg but it has gone up to Rs.20 per kg; Ridge Gourd jumped from Rs.15 to Rs.25 Cauliflower climbed from Rs.20 per kg to Rs.35 per kg”.
Similar, green vegetables such as coriander and spinach which is sold in bunches have also witnessed a steep price rise. Prices of these green vegetables have increased by four times. Onion and potato price have also gone up from Rs.10 per kg to Rs.15 per kg.
This price hike has adversely affected the budget of a household.
Sunita Banarjee, a housewife said, “This sudden rise in price of vegetables has adversely affected my budget. I look for those vegetables whose prices are comparatively low than other vegetables”.
Another house manager Kriti Rathod said, “The consumption of vegetables has decreased in my house since the price of vegetables increased. We prepare badi ,Kaddi, and mangodi as substitute of vegetables”.