Vegetable prices shoot up in Guntur

GUNTUR
Nov. 23: The recent floods washed away the vegetable gardens in the district. As a result, the prices of vegetables have increased manifold during the last one month.
Severe drought also hit the vegetable production in the district. The farmers are using oil engines to pump water to the gardens in the drought-hit mandals. It is leading to the rise in the prices of vegetables. While the consumption is increasing during the marriage season the supply is not in a position to meet the demand.
The traders are selling vegetables at abnormal prices. The common man is not in a position to purchase the vegetables with the increase in the prices. Potatoes are being sold at Rs 22-a-kg, which was previously sold at Rs 16 during the first week of November. Beans is being sold at Rs 40-a-kg, short beans at Rs 20-a-kg, carrot at Rs 40-a–kg, which was previously sold at Rs 26,-a–kg.
Tomatoes are being sold at Rs 22-a-kg, which were previously sold at Rs 10-a—kg, beetroot at Rs 22-a–kg, bananas at Rs 10 for three, yam at Rs 20-a-kg.green chillis at Rs 18-a-kg, cucumber at Rs 10-a-kg. which was previous sold at Rs 8-a-kg.
Ladies finger is being sold at Rs 14-a-kg. brinjal at Rs 12-a-kg, while donda (ivy gourd) at Rs 12-a-kg. Except brinjals, cuumber and donda other vegetables are not within the reach of common man.
The vegetables traders claim that rains triggered by the monsoon damaged the vegetable gardens. If it continues to rain it will damage the vegetable gardens further.
Onionse being sold at Rs 30-a-kg, which were previously sold at Rs 22-a-kg- during last month. The traders expecting that the onion prices will go up further.
The recent floods have damaged the onion crop in Kurnool district and in Maharashtra.
To make a fast buck the traders are hiking the prices of vegetables.
The government set up rytu bazaars to sell vegetables at reasonable prices, but there is no difference of rates in the municipal market and rytu bazaars.