Vegetable prices have shot up by at least 25 percent over the last three weeks, owing to scanty rainfall and rising temperatures.
However, the increase has been attributed to an annual phenomenon observed during April as vegetable prices had similarly increased last year during the same time.
The price of beans, which has almost doubled in the last two weeks, is presently pegged at Rs. 70 as against its earlier price of Rs. 38 a kilo. Carrots have also become dear with a kilo of carrot now costing Rs. 40, a steep increase from Rs. 25 a kg three weeks ago.
Lemons cost Rs. 4 each in the retail market . Even brinjal prices have shot up to Rs. 27 a kg, while potatoes are priced at Rs. 31 a kilo. According to experts, Bangalore gets its supply of vegetables chiefly from the neighbouring districts of Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Ramnagar, which have seen little rains this year.
Keshav S. H., manager, procurement and marketing, Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (Hopcoms), told The Hindu that the supply of vegetables had fallen drastically starting last week of March. He said the yield per hectare had decreased by nearly half, as vegetables perished in the fields owing to soaring mercury levels.
However, onions and tomatoes have seen only a marginal increase in their prices, Hopcom sources said. Officials said that despite low rainfall and soaring temperatures, the supply of tomatoes, which was expected to fall, has not been affected.
