This batch of monsoon rains may have subsidised. But the after-effect of the rains on the cost of vegetables and seafood may take longer to die down.
Most vegetables, except for onions and tomatoes, are priced above Rs. 40 a kg. Wholesale merchants in Koyambedu say vegetables sourced from the State are in short supply due to rain.
Broad beans and drumsticks are priced at Rs. 60 and Rs. 80 a kg, respectively. Brinjal, commonly used in south Indian cooking, is priced at Rs. 40 a kilo.
V.R. Soundararajan, a wholesale trader, says: “We are sourcing drumsticks from Maharashtra now as it is not in season in Tamil Nadu. Snakegourds and radish too are costly as there are fewer arrivals than usual.”
Though the cost of a few vegetables, including potato, carrot and beans, has come down in the wholesale market, it will take a while for the dip to reflect in retail prices, say traders. Carrots and ladiesfingers are priced at Rs. 56 and Rs. 50 a kg, respectively.
S. Chandran, president , Koyambedu Licensed Merchants Association, says: “During the rains, we get more loads of poor quality vegetables. Retailers suffer wastage of 10-20 per cent. It takes at least three or four days to witness a change in retail prices. The fluctuations in price will continue till month-end.”
Not just vegetables but dried fish too has become costly, thanks to the rains. Over the past two weeks, dried fish prices have seen a jump of around 30 per cent.
A. Sekar, a resident of Chintadripet, says his family consumes at least a quarter kg of dried fish almost every day.
“If there is sambar or rasam on the menu, we invariably have fried fish and boiled eggs as sides. We cannot afford too many vegetables as they are very costly,” he says.
The demand for dried fish has gone up since fresh fish landings are minimal due to the inclement weather.
“We get dried fish from Maharashtra and Gujarat. Some people don’t buy seafood during the monsoon as they are worried of adverse health consequences,” says a dried fish trader in Kasimedu.
