Vegetables continue to be dearer, quality deteriorates

Prices of vegetables have shot through the roof following heavy rains in the whole of September resulting into low arrival of vegetables from local producers.

This created shortage of many vegetables while their quality touched rock bottom. Many vegetables like cauliflower and carrot were compleltey missing from many parts of the market.

Another reason for the upward movement of vegetables was said to be absence of roadside vendors during lockdown. Now, these vendors have returned to their original business, thus reducing the total number of vegetable vendors and therefore creating short supply.

Quality of leafy vegetables continued to be extremely low and small vendors did not prefer to keep these vegetables for sale in their shops. Many seasonal leafy vegetables were also missing from the market.

This has upset the kitchen of many housewives, who have preferred to miss out on vegetable recipes from the menu of families.

Many housewives have given preference to pulses and cereals to make up for the high prices of vegetables.

On Sunday, the supply of fenugreek and spinach in the market was low as leafy vegetables suffered physical due to heavy rains.

On Sunday, corriander price touched a record high between ` 150 and ` 160 per kg while in retail its price ranged between ` 180 and ` 200 per kg.

Apart from this, in retail market, prices of all types of vegetables ranged between ` 80 and ` 100 per kg averagely.

Tomatoes were available for ` 80 per kg on Sunday at Sakkardara market.

A vegetable vendor at Vishwakarma Nagar Dilip Patil said currently, due to lower supply of vegetables, their prices have risen sharply and their quality of vegetables has also gone down.

In Cotton Market, everyday 200 to 300 public carriers supply vegetables. However, this supply has drastically come down in recent days

Heavy rains have made it difficult for farmers to pick up vegetables.

The situation was also compounded by lack of smooth transport facilities in various parts of the district.

Supply to be

restored soon

Meanwhile, Dilip Patil said supply of vegetables is likely to be resotred in October by local producers, after which prices would go down. The IMD has predicted retreat of mosoon from the last two days of September. Now prices would move up, he said

Similarly, brinjal is available for ` 80 per kg.

Sources said leafy vegetables are still costlier. In wholesale market, spinach is available at the rate of ` 80 per kg and in retail it is available for ` 100 per kg from Chindawara has been halted while it is available from Nanded. Tomatoes are coming from Buldhana and Nashik, cauliflower from local produders, Aurangabad and Nashik, sources added.