Hyderabad: Sankranti has provided a much-needed breather from soaring prices of vegetables. The prices have come down almost three times than what they were in September and October last year. Common people are all smiles.
Vegetable prices, which had skyrocketed in the beginning of the festival season in October, have now plummeted, thanks to increased supplies to city markets from neighbouring districts and states. Prices of onions and tomatoes, which had peaked to Rs 50 per kg and Rs 80 per kg respectively, a couple of months ago have now eased to about just Rs 10 per kg. All common vegetables are now available for less than Rs 20 per kg.
Farmers, however, are upset as they are incurring losses and are not able to recover even the transport cost that has witnessed a steep increase owing to frequent upward revision of petrol and diesel prices.
P. Ramulu, a vegetable vendor at Monda market in Secunderabad, said, “The adverse weather conditions like heavy rains and cyclones between September and November last year led to destruction of crops in all parts of the state.
However, since then, the weather has been favourable. There has been a bumper harvest in neighbouring districts like Ranga Reddy, Mahbubnagar, Medak and Nalgonda. The supplies have increased to city markets leading to drop in prices.”
Erra Saidulu, a farmer from Mahbubnagar, who supplies vegetables to Erragadda Rythu Bazaar, said, “We had a bumper harvest of perishable crops such as tomatoes in the winter. These vegetables have to be consumed within a day or two else they get spoiled. We are left with no option but to sell them at a low price to avoid losses.”
