Rising prices of vegetables in the district has become a cause for concern as it has put a huge strain on the budget of the poor and the middle-class households. It has also badly hit the demand causing losses to retail and pushcart vendors.
Damage to crops owing to heavy rain in Maharashtra and high transport cost have been attributed to the phenomenon. Vendors have mostly been sitting idle throughout the day without any customers as the latter are cutting down the quantity of their purchases hoping that the price would come down in a few days.
Chandramma, a vendor at Gandhi Ganj, said the cost of a 22-kg tomato carton is ₹1,000 now which was ₹850 on Thursday. “After wastage, we just get 18 kg of tomato and unless we sell a quarter kg at ₹20, we don’t get anything. Customers are unwilling to buy vegetables at that price unlike a month ago,” she added. The prices of almost all the vegetables have been on the rise. Onion, which was sold ₹30 a kg has gone up to ₹50 now. Similarly, beans is sold at ₹70; chilli at ₹40; brinjal at ₹40; and cauliflower (a piece) at ₹40. The price of one drumstick has gone up to ₹20. No vegetable price is below ₹40 a kg. Akula Laxmi, another vendor at Gandhi market, said she has been sitting idle waiting for customers for the last three days. “I have never seen a situation quite like this earlier. The demand has suddenly fallen following the sky-rocketing prices. The market looks dull,” she rued, looking at the passersby presuming they were prospective buyers.
Women who purchase from the pushcart vendors have been hesitant to buy from them. “The prices of almost all the vegetables are not within our reach. Also, the pushcart vendors have stopped coming here often in the last few days,” said C. Reena, a home-maker.
Besides, the quality of some vegetables like tomatoes has been poor. The condition is likely to continue for some more days until the fresh vegetables arrive in the market.