Veggie rates soar due to poor harvest and incessant showers
Posted on: 21/Oct/2017 12:01:53 PM
Due to incessant rain and holidays in the neighborhood states, a sudden soar in veggies price in the city is observed. On Friday, a kg of beans and drumsticks were whopping Rs 100!
Koyambedu market traders claim that the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have received heavy rain showers and led to poor harvest in the festive season. These altogether have dwindled arrival by 50 percent.
Drumsticks turned to be among the costly vegetables, priced at Rs 170 a kg. Usually, drumsticks are procured from Dindugal and Chidambaram. Prices of locally grown vegetables like brinjals have also increased and sold for Rs 60 per kg within just a week because of heavy shortage. Customers are not showing interest in buying bulk volume of veggies, and rather choose to opt for buying what they need only for the day.
There are also complaints about hefty rates of coriander leaves. The rate of tomatoes is Rs 80 per kg.
Reduced procurement
Sukumar, the Joint Secretary of Koyambedu Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers Merchants Welfare Association says because of heavy shortage, at least 50 percent increase in price is observed with various vegetables. Against the usual daily procurement of 350 to 400 truckloads, the market had received only 180 loads. A number of vegetables are priced Rs 50 per kg in the wholesale market.
Prices may reduce from Monday
In a few parts, the harvest may resume from Monday, and hence the rates are expected to come down. Anyhow, veggies like broad beans and carrot will continue to be priced high till end of December.
Rates of onions and potatoes will be Rs 35 per kg and Rs 15 per kg respectively, to note.
