CHENNAI: Don't be surprised if your neighbourhood anna at the kirana shop charges you more for vegetables. Wholesale prices of all vegetables are likely to go up by 10 to 15 a kilogram this week, a fortnight after rates fluctuated due to rain.
While vegetables sold cheap when it rained hard, the rates spiked the days that followed as retail traders thronged the market.
Wholesalers at the Koyambedu vegetable market said the rates will increase in the coming days, usual post rainy days.
S Chandran, secretary of Federation of Wholesale Vegetable Market Associations, said the rates of vegetables will rise since retail traders will return to the market bringing business back to normalcy. Last week, the prices of most vegetables dropped by at least 10. On Friday, prices of cabbage and chow-chow fell by 5 and 7 a kilogram respectively.
But the rates revived the next day. "For instance, drumstick, which was available for just 15 a kilogram shot up to 25 on Saturday," Chandran said.
Moreover, the arrivals of vegetables such as beetroot, cabbage, carrot and drumstick will reduce if it rains, he added.