The city residents have a reason to smile, amid the news reports that the fall in the vegetable prices has resulted in reduced inflation rates nationwide.
After showing no sign of let up since March to till November last year, prices of the vegetables have begun to slide down and finally are within the reach of the common man.
The fall in the prices has been remarkable when compared with the prices a month ago with some vegetables such as tomato registering 67 to 75 per cent decline.
Brinjal, potato, onions and carrots also recorded a steep decline in prices.
In Rythu Bazaars, tomato, irrespective of the variety, costs Rs.4 to Rs.5 per kg, down from its swagger at Rs.14 to Rs.16 per kg a month ago and even worse at Rs.26 for the hybrid variety six months ago.
At the wholesale markets, tomato is costing even lesser, at Rs.2 per kg.
Brinjal, which was costing Rs.18 per kg on December 18, is now available at Rs.8 per kg, while potato has slid down to Rs.14 per kg from Rs.22 per kg both clocking over 50 per cent fall.
Onion, which posed major threat to the government by spiralling to almost Rs.80 per kg till very recently, will now ease the wallet only by Rs.16 per kilogram.
“Though the vegetable prices usually come down during winter months, the latest price crash is a moment to cherish, in view of the exorbitant prices we had been reeling under till recently,” says K.Satyavani, a consumer at the Kothapet Rythu Bazar.
However, a few vegetables such as drumsticks and green chillies have become pricier due to paltry arrivals.
High yieldRythu Bazars Chief Executive Officer M.K. Singh attributed the plummeting prices to the winter crop.
Kothapet Rythu Bazaar, for instance, received 1,000 quintals of vegetables in a single day on January 12 as compared to the average arrivals of 470 quintals per day in July, 2013. The arrivals on some days reached up to 1,300 quintals too, informed Supervisor Padma.
The Rythu Bazaars have an additional blessing, in vegetable cultivation being the primary occupation in many parts of the Ranga Reddy district. Mandals such as Shamshabad, Maheshwaram, Kandukur, Yacharam, Ibrahimpatnam, Shamirpet, Medchal, Shankarpally, Chevella, Moinabad and Vikarabad are known vegetable hubs.
