Veggie prices skyrocket, hit household budget

The recent heavy spell of rain has led to a sudden spurt in the prices of vegetables in the city market.

Most vegetables, including peas, cauliflower, beans and capsicum, have disappeared from the menu of the middle class families as their prices have almost doubled in the past three weeks. The per kg price of peas has shot up to Rs 280 a kg. Beans are available for Rs 160 a kg and cauliflower for Rs 120 a kg. Capsicum, lemons and bitter gourd are now priced at Rs 100 a kg, and ladyfinger and bottle gourd for Rs 80 a kg.

The only reprieve is that the prices of basic vegetables is comparatively under control. Onions are available for Rs 30 a kg and potatoes for Rs 25 a kg. The price of tomatoes has dropped to Rs 60 a kg from a recent spurt of Rs 90 a kg. The per kg price of ginger stands at Rs 100.

While this is the retail rate list of vegetables in the main vegetable markets of the city at Sudama market and near Charanjitpura, the veggies brought to the doorsteps by hawkers are costlier by Rs 20-30 a kg. Prince, a shopkeeper at the old sabzi mandi, rued that the price hike has affected his business too. "The price of vegetables is usually higher in monsoons but this time it is unusually more. There is a sharp decline in the number of buyers coming to the market. Even those coming have limited their quantity of purchase to keep their grocery budget under control," he said.

Shopkeepers said the availability of veggies like peas, cauliflower and capsicum was also an issue these days. "Owing to recent spell of heavy rainfall in hilly areas, the production has gone down. The suppliers are facing the problem of transportation too", said Balram, another shopkeeper.

Rekha, a buyer, said maintaining the household budget has been challenging in the ongoing season. "I had come to mandi with a huge bag but I am going back having been able to buy just 250 gm of two-three veggies. There is no point in purchasing even the humble gourds when they are so expensive", she said.

A relief for the buyers is that fruits are available at a relatively more affordable amount. A dozen bananas are priced at Rs 80-90 and a kg of apples can be brought for Rs 100-120.