Visakhapatnam: The skyrocketing prices of pulses and vegetables have been burning a hole in consumers' pockets. Here's why. There was the heatwave in May. Then there was a decline in the production of pulses due to drought-like conditions last year. The monsoon is delayed and unseasonal rains are damaging crops in some parts of the state. These are said to be the prime reasons behind the exorbitant prices.
The prices of essential commodities see a rise in June annually, but this is so particularly this year. Prices of pulses have started rising with the price of urad dal, which was Rs130-140-a-kg two weeks ago, reaching the Rs 200 mark.
Tur dal is being sold at about Rs 170 a kilo against Rs 130 a month ago. The price of chana dal has been inching closer towards Rs 100 a kilo. Tomatoes, a kitchen staple, are presently being sold at Rs 60 a kg in Rythu Bazaars and Rs 80-90 in supermarkets. They cost Rs 20-30 a kg a month ago.
The prices of broad beans, ridge gourd and brinjal have also crossed the Rs 50 a kg mark. The only vegetable whose price is not inducing tears is, ironically enough, the onion, which is available at Rs 12-15 a kg. Prices of leafy vegetables have also soared.
According to Horticulture department officials, there has been a 50 per cent gap approximately between the supply and demand.
“Vegetable production occupies 6,500 hectares in Srikakulam, of which summer crops are grown in an area of 1,000 hectares. However, water scarcity, coupled with a lack of irrigation facility, has compounded the problem. Of all the vegetables, the production of tomatoes has been hit this year. Good rain alone can stabilise prices,” said horticulture assistant director, M.A. Rahim.
The same situation transpires in every district of the state, with the unpredictable weather not leaving fruits alone either. Unseasonal rains, accompanied by hailstorms in May, severely affected the mango orchards in the North Coastal region besides Krishna and the two Godavari districts, resulting in a drop in mango output, which is sending prices upwards.
“The Union government’s decision to release more pulses to the states from its buffer stock may help bring down prices in a week or two. But it will take another three to four weeks before the prices of vegetables settle down as AP needs a good spell of rain,” an agricultural marketing official added.
