KAKINADA: Though there has been a slight correction in prices of vegetables, consumers are still unhappy with prevailing rates of ladies finger and ridge gourd. They are still high at between ₹ 60–70 a kg in Rythu Bazaars and ₹ 70–80 in open markets.
Bitter gourd is, however, costing ₹ 45 a kg and beetroot ₹ 46. These two vegetables are among the most sought after brinjal, whose price has gradually fallen from ₹ 80 a kg in third week of December to ₹ 20 now. But consumers feel prices must further come down below Rs.15 per kilo. Gherkin prices have also come down. Tomatoes are ₹ 28 per kilo and onion ₹ 35.
Presently, tomatoes are coming from Madanapalle in Chittoor district. Onions from Kurnool have been replaced by the product from Maharashtra. This is because due to heavy rains, onion crop in Kurnool district had been severely damaged.
Beans at ₹ 25 per kilo are coming from Chintaluru, Sarabhavaram, Vannepudi, Sankhavaram, Prathipadu and other villages in upland areas. Their prices may fall steeply in first week of February. Brinjal is coming from Bikkavolu, Anaparthi and Rayavaram mandals and Rayabhupalapatnam in Peddapuram mandal.
Gherkins are from Madiki and surrounding places, apart from Atreyapuram mandal. Ladies finger arrives from Venturu village of Ramachandrapuram mandal. “Ladies-finger crop is yet to come for harvest in several areas of the district,” said wholesale vegetable trader Gangadharam. He said currently, the requirement of vegetables is more than 20 tonnes per day. But only 7–8 tonnes of vegetables are coming and hence the prices are high.
Horticulture Department assistant director B.V. Ramana said vegetables are being cultivated over 15,000 hectares in East Godavari district. He pointed out that ₹ 1 lakh per acre is being given as subsidy for up to four acres to cultivate vegetables by erecting “pandals”.
Prices of Vegetables (per kilo): Tomato – ₹ 28 and ₹ 24, Brinjal – ₹ 26, ₹ 30, ₹ 34 and ₹ 36, ladies finger – ₹ 70, red chilli – ₹ 54, ₹ 58 and ₹ 60, bitter gourd – ₹ 45, ridge gourd – ₹ 60, cauliflower – ₹ 25 and ₹ 30, cabbage – ₹ 36, carrot – ₹ 36, potato – ₹ 20 and ₹ 26, onions – ₹ 30 and ₹ 35, goru chikkudu – ₹ 26, cucumber – ₹ 36, chikkullu – ₹ 26, chema dumpa – ₹ 32 and beetroot – ₹ 46, ginger – ₹ 40
