Onions continue to cost dearer in the Fort city. The cost has been steadily rising in the last few weeks, and on Friday, 1 kg of onions was priced at ₹60 in the retail market.
A. Balu, president of Vellore Town Nethaji Market Kaikari Vyabarigal Sangam, said in the wholesale market, a bag of onions weighing 25 kg was priced in the range of ₹2,300 to ₹2,600 now.
“This rate will go up at least by ₹100 tomorrow. Last week, the rate was hovering around ₹1,600 to ₹1,800 in the wholesale market. A kilogram was priced at ₹30 to ₹40 in the retail market. The cost has been steadily rising. In fact, a bag of 25 kg of onions was sold at ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 in the wholesale market last month,” he said.
Rains had damaged the produce in many places including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, he said. “At present, the old stock of onions is being supplied from Maharashtra. The situation will improve when the new produce from the State is supplied. This supply is just commencing.”
Small onions were also priced high. A kilogram was priced above ₹100, he noted. A box of 25 kg of tomatoes was priced at ₹800 in the wholesale market, while a kilogram costs ₹35 to ₹40 in the retail market. The thorny variety of brinjal was priced at ₹50, while lady’s finger cost ₹30 to ₹40.
Potatoes (a kilogram) cost ₹20, while beans was priced at ₹30.
Carrots were expensive too. “A kilogram was priced above ₹50. Good quality carrot cost ₹80. Last week, carrots cost ₹35 to ₹40 a kg. This week, on ‘muhurtam’ days, it was even sold for as high as ₹100 in the retail market,” Mr. Balu said. He added that the rise in cost was due to damage to crops in rains in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The cost of other vegetables are – peas ₹60, cabbage ₹40 to ₹50, ginger ₹30, drumstick ₹40 to ₹60 and green chillies ₹25.
