The prices of fish and some vegetables have seen a spike. But the price of chicken, in the middle of an argument between the State government and sellers over selling price, is seen cooling in the city markets.
The price of the best quality shallots (small onions) had gone up to ₹120 a kg in the retail market, thanks largely to a scarcity created by large-scale exports, said N.H. Shameed, a wholesale vegetable dealer in the city. However, he said the price had come down to around ₹90 a kg. Similarly, the price of tomatoes has gone up to ₹80 a kg in the retail market. Tomatoes too are being bought by exporters in large quantities, and the prices have heated up. Another vegetable that has seen a price rise is bitter gourd, the retail price of which is around ₹40 a kg.
According to the price list from Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) on Wednesday, the price of shallots is ₹88 a kg in the retail market; tomatoes ₹78 a kg; bitter gourd ₹38; carrot was selling at ₹65 a kg in the retail market; locally grown vegetable cow pea was selling at ₹48 a kg; drumstick at ₹40 a kg and local elephant foot yam at ₹50 a kg.
Meanwhile, the price of fish has been boosted by a shortage in landings. There is a scarcity in common fish varieties like oil sardines and mackerels while anchovies are being landed in large quantities at fishing harbours near the city. Oil sardines were sold for ₹140 a kg while mackerels were scarce and were selling around ₹180 a kg. Anchovies were in the price range of ₹100 to ₹120. Threadfin breams were being sold for ₹230 while top-end fish like seer fish was selling for ₹700. Pomfrets is in the price band of ₹450 to ₹500 a kg. The price of chicken is cooling in the local market. The price was ₹115 a kg in one of the local markets. The price was around ₹150 a kg a week ago, said a hotelier.
