Veggie prices hit the roof

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, August 21

Following floods in various Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, prices of vegetables in the local market have risen. Heavy rains affected the production of vegetables pushing the prices of vegetables up.

In the market, a kilogram of cauliflower rose to Rs80 from Rs50 a week ago. Price of ladyfinger rose to Rs50 per kilo from Rs40, capsicum to Rs70 from Rs50 per kilo, colocasia to Rs50 from Rs40 and brinjal to Rs40 from previous rate of Rs25 per kilo. Tomato is currently selling at Rs50, higher from Rs35 per kilo before, gourd at Rs60 (rising from Rs40) and the price of mediocre kali tori has reached Rs 60 per kg.

The impact of swollen rivers in nearby mountainous states and in Punjab is also being reflected in high retail prices which burnt a hole in pockets of city dwellers.

A retail vegetable seller Sandeep Kumar said there had been a sharp increase in the prices of vegetable in comparison to the last week.

“Since a majority of vegetable growers in the district switched over to more secured MSP crops this season, we have to rely more on vegetable produce from other states.”

Himachal Pradesh is supplying tomato, carrot and cauliflower, Ferozepur is supplying ‘arbi’ (colocasia) and lemon is being imported from Gujarat, this season.

Rain pain

The impact of swollen rivers in nearby mountainous states and in Punjab is also being reflected in high retail prices which has burnt a hole in the pocket of city dwellers.