Delay in sowing of seeds leads to hike
A weekly budget of Rs 300 for vegetables is not enough and some households are spending as much as Rs 500. (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: Despite the chill setting in, the cost of vegetables hasn’t come down. Usually in November, people look forward to buying a wider variety of vegetables as they are in abundance and the prices are also less. It is the best time to buy pink carrots, coriander, salad leaves, green leafy vegetables etc. as the quality is best and they are available in abundance. But this November, many people are disheartened as the prices have skyrocketed despite diesel prices being slashed.
Ramesh Rao said, “Whenever the prices of vegetables rose, the rising costs of transportation were given as an excuse. But the price of diesel has come down and despite that we are paying through our noses for common vegetables.”
A weekly budget of Rs 300 for vegetables is not enough and some households are spending as much as Rs 500.
Shirin Patel, who lives in Yapral, said, “I buy from the vendors who come near our homes in the morning. They too are not willing to bargain. What is the reason for such rigidity in prices?. Coriander, which is actually in abundance in this season, is more costly than other green leafy vegetables. The vendor refuses to give even one small bit extra as he cribs that it is too costly.”
Uma Devi, the assistant director of horticulture of Ranga Reddy district, said, “Due to the severe climatic conditions, sowing of seeds was delayed by over a month. The sowing was carried out only recently and it will take a month more for the vegetables to arrive in large quantities. The changes in climate are creating these problems as farmers are not taking up sowing on time. Ten per cent of the area is still not cultivated and we need to cover that.”
At the same time, traders are auctioning at high prices at the main market due to which distribution prices are high.
A senior officer said, “As the supply is less, traders are making the most as they know that the demand will fetch them a good price. Since the retailer or small vendor gets it at a high cost, he is not ready to budge on the price as he has procured it at high cost.”
Meanwhile, the rising vegetable prices reflect directly on the dinner table where the nutritional values have to be compromised.
Nutritionists have been advocating the habit of eating more green leafy vegetables and insist that there is no good substitute for them. Sujatha Stephen, dietician said, “Leafy vegetables contain iron, calcium, micro-nutrients and fibre which are good for the body. But generally, people have only for palak, methi, chaulai and gongura. There are others green leafy vegetables too that are a storehouse of valuable nutrients like radish leaves, cauliflower leaves etc.”
Dr Janaki P. Srinath said, “People must understand that there are lots of options. Gongura, chikukura and drumstick leaves are also very good for health. They can opt for these when prices are high. The problem is that we have restricted our choice to only four to five vegetables and green leafy vegetables. People must learn to mix and match judiciously so that they will have a wider variety of nutrients in one meal.”
( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story
