Vegetable prices skyrocket because of short supply caused by recent heavy rains

Guntur: Prices of vegetables soared to new heights during the last few days because of short supply caused by recent heavy rains.

Brinjals which were previously sold at Rs16- a -kg 10 days ago are now being sold at Rs 30-a-kg. Ladyfinger price doubled and touched Rs 26- a -kg.

Similarly, Scarlet Gourd price hiked to Rs 27- a kg from Rs 20- a kg. Potato price jumped to Rs 26- a kg, good quality plantain is being sold at Rs 7 each.

Green chilli price hiked to Rs 30- a kg. Bitter gourd is selling at Rs 25- kg. Short beans is selling at Rs 30-a kg. Curry leaves a bunch being sold at Rs 8 each. Prices of almost all vegetables doubled.

When the prices of vegetables hiked, some of the consumers were purchasing less quantities. Others were purchasing tomatoes which were selling at Rs 14-a-kg. Good quality of green chillis not available in the market.

A vegetable trader P Kanakaiah said, “Similar situation will continue for another one month or till new crop enters the market. There is great gap between demand and supply. As a result, the price of the vegetables increased.”

A consumer P Srinivasa Rao said that due to hike in prices of vegetables, he was spending more on the vegetables.