Tomatoes costlier than apples!

Gaurav Kanthwal
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 15

Tomatoes are costlier than apples. The price hovered around Rs60 per kg, a tad higher than that of the golden variety of apple, which was being sold for Rs50 a kg at the Sector 26 vegetable market. The prices of peas have hit the roof at Rs150 a kg. Cauliflower is being sold for Rs100 a kg.

Interestingly, onions are being sold at Rs35 per kg during the Shradh period when the demand is usually less. More shocking are the prices of potato Rs40 (pahadi) and Rs35 (local) per kg.

“In sector lanes, vendors increase the prices by Rs5 to Rs10. If you visit the vegetable market, you can hope to get some items cheaper,” said Narayani Sharma, a banker and resident of Sector 23-D. Small Vegetable Vendors Association vice-president Ashok Gujjar said, “Peas and cauliflower are being supplied only from Lahaul, so the prices are high. Onions are expensive because of floods and crop loss in Maharashtra.”

Market experts say the current price rise is going to last over a month. “By October-end, you will see the prices of vegetables crash,” said Gujjar. Wholesalers said had restaurants and hotels been doing good business, the prices would have been even higher.

However, the prices of some vegetables have come down in the last fortnight. French beans, selling at Rs80 a kg two weeks ago, are down to Rs40 a kg. The prices of bottle gourd and brinjal have fallen in recent days to Rs40 a kg.

Little hustle & bustle on Day 1

Back at the Sector 26 market, the first day for vegetable vendors was a tumultuous affair even as there were few customers. On Monday and the whole night as well, sanitisation work was being carried out in the area with special focus on ways to maintain social distancing in the coming days. Market committee officials said only vendors having a licence would be allowed entry. Vegetable and fruit sellers had been segregated to avoid overcrowding.

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