Vegetable prices in the district have eased a little thanks to improved supplies even as the impending Onam season holds out a threat of the market heating up again.
The price of vegetables like bittergourd, bhindi, cabbage, French beans, beetroot etc. have come down this week compared to the same week in June.
However, prices of many items still rule high compared to the levels six months ago, say figures released by the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (VFPCK) which daily tracks prices in markets across the State.
Carrot price continued to hold firm at Rs. 40 a kg on Thursday in the retail market. The price of nendran variety of banana has gone up from Rs. 28 a kg in the retail market on February 2, 2012 to Rs. 40 a kg on Thursday. But the price of bitter gourd has come down substantially between the periods from Rs. 36 a kg six months ago to Rs. 26 a kg on Thursday at the retail level.
The price of tomato has gone up from Rs. 20 in the retail market six months ago to Rs. 30 a kg on Thursday. Price of all-time favourite cowpea ( achinga ) has risen sharply over the last six months from Rs. 12 a kg in the retail market here to Rs. 30 a kg on Thursday. The price of cabbage too has come down marginally during the week.
Meanwhile, wholesalers say that there has been an improvement in the supply of vegetables at the Ernakulam market. The local supplies too had picked up thanks to the wet weather conditions in many vegetable-growing areas.
The market is expected to see better supplies on Friday. The Ernakulam market expects more than 20 loads against the 17 loads on Thursday.
