Rising heat prices: Prices of vegetables go up with increase in demand

CHENNAI: Consumers are left high and dry with the sharp increase in the prices of vegetables in the city. The prices of tomatoes and onions, which form the daily ingredients in cooking, have increased.

The price of vegetables both in the wholesale and retail markets in the last couple of weeks has increased sharply, making the people spend extra dough. “Due to less rainfall, the production of the vegetables has been less and this has led to shortfall in the arrivals here,” says Abdul Khader, secretary of Koyambedu Vegetable Wholesale Merchants Association.

The wholesale traders usually receive truckloads of vegetables from the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh but now they have received only half the quantity of the usual delivery. The price of tomato, for instance, has spiraled as the market receives only 40 truckloads of tomatoes. The supply crisis may further jack up the prices of vegetables, according to the wholesale traders in Koyambedu. The vegetables that were sold for Rs 20 or 30 per kilo until last month, are set to touch Rs 50 if the shortfall in supply continues, says Abdul Khader.

A month back 4 kg of onions were sold for Rs 50 and now 2 ½ kg cost Rs 50. beans, which were priced Rs 25 to Rs 40 last month shot up to Rs 100 per kg. Tomatoes which were sold at Rs 20 shot up to Rs 50.

Green peas sold at Rs 40 shot up to Rs 120 per kg. As of now, the price of ginger and chilly is Rs 50 per kg, bitter gourd is Rs 60, carrot Rs 40 per kg, and brinjal Rs 40 per kg. As this is the season, drumsticks and cucumbers are arriving in plenty and are priced Rs 20 or Rs 30.

“Due to Ramzan and upcoming marriage season, we expect there will be a huge demand of vegetables especially tomatoes, the price is likely to shoot up,” he added.