Bengaluru: Prices of Vegetables in Bengaluru have shot up unreasonably during the last week, for instance Green Peas were Rs: 180 last week and are Rs: 250 this week; Beans Rs: 50 and Rs: 80; Corriander Rs: 10 and Rs: 30; Ridge gourd Rs: 20 and Rs: 30; Ladies finger Rs:16 and Rs: 26; Tomato Rs: 15 and Rs: 25;
Excessive rain in the past few days has brought with it a deluge of woes to farmers, merchants and consumers. Owing to crop damage, prices of vegetables grown in the state have gone up by 10%-40%.
RV Gopi, president, Vegetable Merchants Association, said: “Heavy rainfall across the state has badly damaged crops. Locally grown vegetables have been hit the hardest. Vegetables like brinjal, which is brought from Tamil Nadu, haven’t been affected as the neighbouring state has received optimum rain.”
Kadre Gowda, managing director, Horticulture Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (Hopcoms) said, “The rain has particularly taken a toll on leafy vegetables like spinach and coriander.”
The only saving grace are onion and potato. Bala Krishna, member, Onion Traders’ Association, said, “The two require more rainfall, so the heavy spell has been a boon to them.”
Restaurant owners and Households are worried. Suresh Kumar Jana is a worried man. Hit hard by skyrocketing vegetable prices, the restaurant owner is facing a major dilemma. While he doesn’t want to compromise on the quality of food he serves, he’s finding it increasingly difficult to afford greens.
“Prices have shot up considerably. I deliver food to households on a regular basis. I cannot avoid using costly vegetables because my customers demand variety. But it’s pinching my pocket. I could buy five bunches of coriander for the same price which is fetching me only two now,” rued Suresh.
“This week I survived on boiled potato and onion curry. Even chillies have become costly. Bengaluru is already an expensive city. With veggie prices getting so dear, it’s becoming impossible to live here,” said Sukanya Bakshi, a resident of Koramangala.
