The winter has set in, but the prices of vegetables are steadily going north instead of witnessing a fall. While the prices show a marked increase over the corresponding period last year, the trend has been a constant feature over the last few days. In fact, eggs’ prices too have have gone through the roof over the past few weeks.
The retail price of tomato touched Rs 100 per kg on Saturday in several upmarket colonies in the national Capital. Green leafy vegetables like spinach, green mustards and white goosefoot, which are winter staple, are being sold between Rs 40 and Rs 50 a kg. They were sold at Rs 20 a kg last year during the same period. Green peas too are being sold at Rs 80 per kg and above. In some posh colonies, vendors are charging even Rs 100 a kg for green peas.
Interestingly, the average retail price of onion was ruling at Rs 15 per kg in April but gradually it rose to Rs 50 a kg before October. By October-end, the rate jumbed to Rs 80 a kg in the retail market.
According to vegetable vendors, carrot, which is also winter vegetable, is being sold at Rs 80 per kg. Carrot was sold at Rs 15-20 a kg last year during this time. The price of ladyfinger is ranging between Rs 40 and Rs 50 a kg now while bottle gourd is priced at Rs 40 a kg. Methi patta (fenugreek) costs Rs 40 a kg in the retail market.
Potato, the most common food item in a household, is being sold between Rs 20 and Rs 30 a kg.
Vendors at Azadpur Mandi say that there is a short supply of all green leafy vegetables, besides tomato and onions. “Besides, the wholesale rates are high. For instance, the wholesale rate of tomato was Rs 45-50 per kg while onion rate was Rs 30-35 per kg in the Azadpur Wholesale Mandi. Similarly, cabbage was sold at Rs 17-20 per kg on Saturday at Ghazipur Wholesale Mandi,” said vendors.
Incidentally, the skyrocketing vegetable prices have pushed up the retail cost of eggs, the poor man’s source of protein, by Rs 3 a piece in Delhi and the National Capital Region over the last few days. Eggs, which were selling at Rs 5-6 a piece till a month back, now cost Rs 8 each in Delhi-NCR. A dozen eggs now cost Rs 90 at your neigbourhood grocer.
Interestingly, the cost escalation has been attributed by vendors to the soaring prices of green leafy vegetables, besides heightened demand during the winter season. Delhi is heavily dependent on supply of vegetables from other States and any shortage in supply results in price hikes.
Tomatoes and onions are supplied to Delhi-NCR from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, UP, Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan and Haryana.
Earlier, the Delhi Government had constituted various teams of officers and directed them to submit a daily report on the prices of vegetables in the wholesale markets.
“This winter, unseasonal rain, floods in several parts and crop loss have led to a rise in the prices of almost all green leafy vegetables. The late rain caused some damage and also delayed the harvesting of the standing tomato, kharif onion, capsicum and spinach crops, thereby, impacting market arrivals. Prices of all veggies continue to rule high in the month of December,” said officials of Agriculture Ministry.
The Centre has also ordered import of onions through state trading firm Mines and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC). It will procure 2,000 tonnes from international markets like Egypt and China to increase availability and cool retail prices. It also ordered state-owned agencies to buy 12,000 tonnes onion from domestic market.
Former chairman of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Rajendra Sharma told The Pioneer that consumers waiting for cooling down of vegetables prices with the onset of winter may have to wait longer. “As Delhi depends on supplies from other states, shortage of vegetables is being blamed for the surge in prices in the city. People should wait for new crops of tomato and onion for reduction of retail prices,” Sharma said.