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Now a downtrend in vegetable prices

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

A RELIEF: Shoppers at vegetable markets in Puducherry breathe easy.

PUDUCHERRY: Consumers in Puducherry have some reason to be happy.

For the first time in the last two months, the prices of almost all vegetables have come down, owing to better supply from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The rates of vegetables have fallen in the last one week after wholesale vegetable dealers and vendors started to receive adequate stocks from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The recent rains had damaged crops resulting in price rise of all vegetables, especially tomatoes.

“The new yield of vegetables has brought down the prices,” A.M. Murugan, a wholesale vegetable dealer, said.

Dealers and vendors are expecting a further decline in prices. The rates could come down if rains do not cause further damage to crops. The prices of all vegetables could then become normal in 10 days, the dealers said.

The cost of tomatoes, which reached an all-time high of Rs.50 to Rs.60 per kg last month, had come down to Rs.20. “There is a difference of around Rs.10 in the cost of all vegetables from last week, except onions, which are costlier by Rs. 4 or Rs. 5, as this is not the season,” Mr. Murugan said.

Last week, a kg of tomatoes was priced at Rs.40, now the cost was Rs.20. Onions were now priced at Rs.14 to Rs.16 against Rs. 10 last week. Small onions were being sold at Rs.24 per kg and potatoes Rs.10.

Lady’s finger, which was priced at Rs.18 last week, was being sold at Rs.10 to Rs.12. The price of cauliflower had dipped from Rs.22 to Rs.15, green chillies from Rs.24 to Rs.15, carrot from Rs.40 to Rs.26 and radish from Rs.10 to Rs.5. The other vegetable prices were as follows: beetroot – Rs.12, cabbage – Rs.12, bitter gourd – Rs.13 to Rs.14 and drumstick – Rs.18.

“The price of beans has come down to Rs.12 from Rs.40 last week. The price had gone up to Rs.60 in the last two months,” Mr. Murugan said.

However, the cost of capsicum differed from one market to another - Rs.38 to Rs.80. However, the original price of capsicum was around Rs.35, the dealers said.

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