Vegetable prices soar due to untimely rains

Hyderabad: The recent untimely rains in the State in October, has resulted in steep rise in vegetable prices affecting the pockets of common man. The skyrocketing vegetable prices have hit hard even the Rythu Bazaars.

It is because of the farm yield getting damaged in the rains. Mahendar, estate officer, RK Puram Rythu Bazaar, said, "Due to rains, most of the vegetables that farmers bring here is rotten. In the last lot of vegetables that was brought by the farmers, more than 60 per cent was ruined by the time it reached here."

As a result, vegetable prices have not only increased in the weekly markets, but also in the Rythu Bazaars in the past few weeks. While the Rythu Bazaars in north and east zones of the city saw a hike in the prices of vegetables, the west zone, which is said to have the highest population, has not seen much effect on the prices of the vegetables.

While the potatoes are selling at Rs 24 to 26 per kg in the Rythu Bazaars of RK Puram, Bowenpally and Alwal, it is priced at Rs 23 in Kukatpally Rythu Bazaar. A similar price difference is seen in vegetables cauliflower, carrot and onions.

However, the prices of tomato have fallen drastically to Rs 25 a kg in Rythu Bazaars across the city. The price rise is seen as a result of demand and supply mismatch. Farmers in these Rythu Bazaars say that there would be no relief from the inflated prices till November-end.

Though there is a sharp rise in the vegetable prices, the demand for vegetables, especially in Alwal Rythu Bazaar, has increased, said KR Sai Kumar, estate officer of Alwal Rythu Bazaar.

Meanwhile, Sudhakar Rao, estate officer of Kukatpally Rythu Bazaar, said, "The transportation is one of the reasons why the prices of vegetables have increased. However, the prices in this Rythu Bazaar is a bit less as compared to others as there is a huge demand of vegetables.