It’s not just soaring temperatures that are sweating the people. The common man is struggling to manage the budget with runaway increase in vegetable prices.
The rythu bazaars, which are popular for their affordable prices, are also out of bound for the common man. The prices of all types of vegetables have suddenly soared. Though the prices were on rise during last few days, there is a quantum jump in the last couple of days.
On the face of soaring prices, the arrivals have come down drastically, leaving the common man with no other choice but to restrict his consumption to a few vegetables like drumstick, ivy gourd (donda kaya) and ladies finger (benda kaya). The bitter gourd has almost disappeared from the markets. The snake gourd and raddish, is nowhere to be seen in rythu bazaars.
The carrot was sold at Rs. 72 a kg couple of days ago, and now almost vanished from the market. The carrot available is sold at Rs. 46 a kg though the quality is of substandard. French beans are too hot to touch at Rs 100 a kg, so are tomatoes. The tomato now costs Rs.32 a kg at rythu bazaar, and not less than Rs. 60 per kg in the open market.
Not just the exotic beans and capsicum, but the relatively affordable brinjal is costing Rs. 14 to 17 a kg depending upon the variety. A bundle of coriander leaves which was selling at just at Rs.10 is sold not less than Rs.12 to Rs.15. A bottle gourd that cost Rs.5 just two weeks ago is now being sold for Rs.14; ridge gourd is now sold at Rs.18 a kg at rythu bazaar. The prices of onion and potatoes – basic ingredients in most Indian dishes – are also sold at 17 and Rs. 16 a kg respectively.
The arrivals at Patamata have come down to 160 quntials as against 170 quintals of average arrivals. The fall in arrivals include leafy vegetables also. Situation is no better in Swaraj Maidan and other rythu bazaars in the city.
The vegetable prices in the city have skyrocketed and likely to shoot up further due to intense heat and acute water shortage, say vendors.
