Kolkata: Veggie prices soar as rain hits production, supplies

KOLKATA: Vegetable prices at wholesale and retail markets have shot up again — almost by 50% at retail markets for a few items compared to their rates mid-August — after continuous rain across West Bengal and parts of India damaged production and hit supplies. Prices of onion at the wholesale market have increased by Rs 5 per kilo after production in Andhra Pradesh was hit by showers.
On Saturday, price of onion was at Rs 25-30 per kilo at the Koley Market. Supplies have also come down drastically after Andhra Pradesh reported lower production over past one week. “Primarily, it is the production in Andhra Pradesh that is affecting prices in Kolkata markets. Moreover, production in Karnataka has also been hit by excessive rains,” said Abhijit Das, a trader in Koley market. Das, who received two truckloads of onion even 10 days ago, is getting one truckload every two days.

The decline in production in the southern states has increased pressure on Nasik which is finding it difficult to cater to the demand. “Moreover, export of onion has started and that is further creating a shortage,” Das said.
Prices of locally grown vegetables like parwal and brinjal have also gone up at the retail markets by 50%. Both the vegetable, which were selling at Rs 40 a kilo earlier, are being sold at Rs 60 per kg.
Price of green chillies has, however, come down and it is being sold at Rs 70-75 per kilo at wholesale points. “There has been substantial damage to the crop in Bengal during cyclone Amphan. The crop in Beldanga in Murshidabad is inadequate to meet the demand. We were importing green chillies from Maharashtra. But heavy rains across the country has caused a severe loss of crops,” said Anup Gupta, a trader at Koley Market. On Saturday, wholesale price of green chillies was Rs 70-75 per kilo, compared to Rs 120 per kilo 10 days ago.
“Even though there are some demand-supply gaps due to supply chain disruptions, the price gap of wholesale and retail is yawning. There must be greater monitoring of retail markets. For making people aware of the gap, KMC can put up the wholesale prices on a board on a daily basis so that retailer cannot fleece the customers,” said Kamal Dey, member, market task force.
Meanwhile, four teams of Enforcement Branch on Saturday conducted raids across at least 60 city markets to find out if vegetables are being sold at unusually high rates. According to sources, EB officials found prices of brinjal, parwal and onion to be high. “Prices have come down a bit compared to a week back. But it is still high for some vegetables. We have warned some traders at markets in Maniktala and College Street for trying to sell vegetables at much higher rates,” said an official of the Enforcement Branch.