Monsoon effect: Vegetable prices soar
LUCKNOW: While the downpour in the first week of monsoon has brought down the temperature, it has led to a hike in the prices of vegetables, pinching the pocket of the common man.
According to traders, the price hike is primarily because of two reasons- one, the rain causes a reduction in local produce which leads to a higher dependency on a few vegetables, and other is rise in local demand of vegetables.
Prices of almost all vegetables, which are brought from outside the state, have nearly doubled in fortnight, say traders.
“The price of tomatoes has increased from ₹30 to ₹60 in past two weeks. The price of onions has also gone up from ₹20 to ₹30,” said Sahnawaz Khan, a vegetable trader.
Like tubers, prices of gourds have also steeped.
Price of bottle gourd has increased from ₹40 to ₹50 while price of bitter gourd has witnessed a hike of around ₹15. Price of pumpkin has also soared in the past two weeks.
“The demand for vegetables rises with the dip in temperature while there is a reduction in the supply which stimulates price rise,” said Surendra Kumar, a rural economist.
Reportedly, farmers had to also invest more in managing their crop during monsoon which also leads to price hike.
“Price of several vegetables will go up as the monsoon proceeds and this is expected to continue till September,” added
“The government should take measures to ensure that the basic vegetables are available to common people at nominal rates throughout the country.”
DIPESH SINGH, a business representative, Old City area
Surendra.
The skyrocketing vegetable prices have worried many households.
“Tomatoes and onions are two most common vegetables in every kitchen, yet their price increases manifolds for few months every year,” said Dipesh Singh, a business representative who lives in Old City area.
“The government should take measures to ensure that the basic vegetables are available to common people at nominal rates throughout the country,” he added.