Prices of vegetables on the rise

It’s that time of the year again when most people want to consider building their own kitchen garden. With the peak summer days round the corner, the cost of several vegetables is slowly on the rise.

Traders at the Koyambedu wholesale market noted that the prices of vegetables were steadily increasing since the last week of March. While some vegetables are costlier by up to 40 % compared to last month, most of them are priced at least 20 % more. However, many merchants reported brisk sales due to the festive season.

Beans, broad beans and tomatoes are among the costly vegetables this season. While one kg of beans is sold for nearly ₹55 depending on the quality, broad beans are priced at ₹50 a kg in the wholesale market. These vegetables are sold for ₹65-₹70 a kg at the retail market.

Some residents like Sivagami B., a resident of Anna Nagar, use green vegetables from their home garden more often to deal with runaway increase in prices.

According to wholesale traders at Koyambedu, the city’s hub of perishable goods, some staple vegetables such as potato, onion and small onions remain affordable. Drumsticks are among the few seasonal vegetables that are cheaper.

P. Sukumar, treasurer, Koyambedu Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers Merchants Welfare Association, said the prices of vegetables begin to increase in April as yield would be less due to depleting groundwater sources. Even vegetables like chayote (chow chow) that are priced within ₹15 a kg are costly as the market did not receive its share from Karnataka. The demand for cucumber and lime has also pushed the prices up this week.

The Koyambedu market receives 320 truckloads of produce daily, which is nearly 80 trucks less compared to March.

“We don’t expect a steep hike like last March as there is sporadic rainfall across the State now and also in Karnataka. Vegetables were at least 50% costly than usual during May and June last year,” he said.