Vegetable prices go up as arrival of trucks declines due to rain
Prices of beans have also jumped up during the past one week
Chennai: Prices of essential vegetables such as onions, tomatoes and beans doubled as arrival of trucks declined by 55 per cent due to heavy rains during the past one week, said sources from the Koyambedu Market Management Committee.
Unprecedented rains in areas like Kolar, Ananthpur, Cuddalore, Ooty have not just damaged the roads due to water-logging and tree felling, but also affected crops such as carrot, onion, tomato, brinjal, ladies finger and broad beans (Avarakkai),” said V.R Soundararajan, tomato trader and a member of the Koyambedu Traders Association.
Prices of Bangalore onion, the variety commonly preferred by households during the November-December season, and small onions that arrive from Salem have touched Rs 50 and Rs 40 per kilogram from Rs 25 per kg and Rs 20 per kg two weeks ago.
Prices of tomato, beans and brinjal also soared due to lower number of trucks from areas like Kolar and Chittoor. Prices of beans have also jumped up during the past one week.
“The price rise of onions and tomatoes are the most worrying aspects since these are the most essential items we need on a daily basis. We hope that prices would normalize once rains are over,” said T.Harris, a Guindy-based vendor who arrived at the market for purchase.
Prices of vegetables have doubled owing to non-arrival of trucks from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu due to the excess rains that led to blockage of highways and a dip in procurement due to extreme weather conditions, traders at the Koyambedu central vegetable market said.
Meanwhile, vendors were forced to dump vegetables worth over Rs 12 lakhs in the waste-yard for the past five days due to the absence of regular customers and vendors who used to purchase on a regular basis.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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