Vegetables have gone 30% costlier, and monsoons are to be blamed

Because of heavy rains that submerged the roads of the capital and halted the traffic for hours at stretch, came a lot of problems and surging vegetable prices is one of them.

As per TNN sources in the wholesale markets, prices of vegetables have gone up to 30%, with no chances of going down in the coming 15-20 days.

Beans, which are sold for Rs 31-35 per kg in the wholesale market, are touching Rs 120 per kg in the retail market. Similarly, ladyfinger is being sold for Rs 28 per kg in the wholesale market, while the retail price is as high as Rs 80 per kg. Cauliflower, from Rs 24 per kg in wholesale, is being sold for Rs 120-160 per kg in shops.

However, retailers are saying that prices have in fact come down in the last two days. "Green pea was Rs 200 per kg till last week and has come down to Rs 160 per kg now," Fateh Singh, a vegetable vendor in Mayur Vihar told TNN.

Even though one can always expect vegetable prices to go up during the monsoon season, the quality of vegetables is something that consumers have to compromise with, despite the high prices.

"It is not unusual for vegetable prices to rise during the monsoon. Fields are flooded and it is very difficult to bring vegetables out of the fields," said Mahinder Sanpal, member, APMC Azadpur.

"Also, the vegetables start rotting because they get wet. It is the green vegetables that are affected the most. Another problem is that vehicles carrying vegetables are not being able to reach Delhi in time due to waterlogged roads," Sanpal added.

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