This festive season, people are feeling the pinch of rising vegetable prices in the capital following poor arrivals at different markets, including Rythu Bazaars, due to the ongoing Samaikyandhra agitations.
Price of green chillies, onions, capsicum, carrot, brinjal have hit the roof as majority of these vegetables are transported to the capital everyday from different places in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
While a kg of green chillies is now costing Rs. 42, capsicum Rs. 54, carrot Rs. 42 at different Rythu Bazaars, it is higher in the retail markets and pushcart vendors offer them at much higher rates.
Depending on the quality, the price of onions is fluctuating around Rs. 45 per kg and to make it convenient for people, the government is now offering onions at Rs. 23 per kg at special counters in all the rythu bazaars in the capital.
Though leafy vegetables, tomato and few other vegetables are available in Shamshabad, Shamirpet, Moinabad and other places surrounding the capital, most of the vegetables arrive from Krishna district, Kurnool, Madanapalle, and Bangalore.
On an average, about 1,200 quintals of vegetables arrive at each Rythu Bazaar depending on the size and sales. But since last few days, due to demonstrations and rasta rokos, there is a considerable decline in the arrivals and this is leading to rising prices of vegetables in the city markets, says an Estate Officer of a Rythu Bazaar.
However, there is some improvement in the arrivals in the last couple of days and prices of few vegetables are coming down. Green chillies that were sold for over Rs.50 per kg last week, is now sold at Rs.42 per kg. Similarly, prices of capsicum and carrots have dropped by a few rupees, he claimed. It is not just those arriving in the capital, inter-State transportation of vegetables is also affected. Nearly 80 trucks transport cabbage and tomato everyday from Bangalore to Kolkata via coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema region.
These vegetables have to be transported within 72 hours but due to the agitations and rasta rokos, but transport companies are not booking stocks for transportation due to the agitation, says Y.V. Eswara Rao, member of Lorry Owners Association of Andhra Pradesh.
