Consumers in a pickle as veggie prices soar

Prices of most of the vegetables have crossed Rs 100 a kilo as the wholesale dealers are buying them other States
Hyderabad: Purchase of vegetables from other States seems to have resulted in an abrupt hike in prices in city. Recent rains damaged crops in many parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, forcing vegetable wholesale dealers to depend on States like Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and others for buying vegetables.

For the last one week, prices of tomato, capsicum, carrot, beans, coriander leaves, drumsticks, green chilli and other vegetables have gone up not only in retail shops and online but in Rythu Bazaar’s as well.

Tomato which was sold at Rs 13 per kg last month is now sold at Rs 53 per kg, capsicum was sold at Rs 38 per kg which is now Rs 75 per kg and beans was sold at Rs 50 but now it has been sold at Rs 94 per kg. Similarly, carrot which was sold at Rs 30 last month has now gone up to Rs 75 per kg and drumstick which was sold at Rs 81 last month and now costs Rs 163 in Rythu Bazaars.

Comparatively, the rates of some vegetables in retail and online shops have crossed Rs 100. Prices of tomato varies between Rs 60 and Rs 100 per kg, capsicum at Rs 120 per kg, beans Rs 160 per kg, carrot has been sold at Rs 100 per kg and bitter gourd at Rs 150 per kg. Whereas, coriander leaves are sold at Rs 60 for 100 grams and drumstick has been sold at Rs 220 per kg in retail shops and online.

When enquired about the same subject, Deputy Director of Marketing Padmaharsha said due to the recent rains, crops had been damaged. She said, “Crop damage was the basic reason for vegetable prices shooting up in city.

” She also added that for the past few days vegetables have been brought from states like Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and others. Transportation, taxes and other logistics involved in bringing the vegetables from other States resulted in sudden price hike here, she added.

BY Aneri Shah