Heavy rains, Himachal landslides send veggie prices soaring in Punjab

Tomatoes, usually sold at Rs 30-40 per kilogram in summers, are now retailing at Rs 100-110 per kilogram. Capsicum and French beans, normally priced at Rs 40 per kg, have touched Rs 200 per kg or more. The steep rise is being attributed to heavy rains in the region and the resultant landslides in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, which have blocked roads and severely disrupted transport.

How much is the shortfall 

Mahmood Akhtar Shad, chairman of Farmers Federation, Malerkotla, said vegetable supply has been badly hit due to continuous rains. A vegetable grower himself, Shad said that before the onset of monsoon, around 400-500 trucks of seasonal vegetables were sent daily to various districts of Punjab. Now, the supply has dropped by about 40 per cent as crops like tomatoes, capsicum, cauliflower, and French beans have been damaged before harvest. “When the demand and supply chain is disrupted, prices are bound to increase and customers bear the brunt. This will continue until the rains stop completely,” Shad said.

Wholesale traders at the local sabzi mandi echoed the concern. Lucky, from Lucky Vegetables, said landslides in Himachal Pradesh have hit supplies badly. “Business in the mandi is down by 70 per cent,” he said. Transporters, too, reported disruption. Charanjit Singh Lohara, a leading transporter, said the worst-hit region was Himachal Pradesh, from where fewer trucks are arriving. “Roads are blocked. Authorities clear one side, but the next day the other side gets blocked. Trucks are taking much longer to reach here,” he said.

Impact on household budgets

While onions and potatoes can be stocked up in cold storage, seasonal vegetables have a short shelf life and cannot be stored for long. As the supply is hit, prices have risen sharply, putting pressure on household budgets. “Earlier, I spent about Rs 500 a week on vegetables, but now it is Rs 800-900,” said Rajita, a homemaker. Traders said that they are now getting tomatoes from Nashik and Ahmedabad, but only in small quantities. Until the rains end and the next crop is ready, prices are not expected to come down, according to market sources.