The prices of vegetables are skyrocketing again. Though this is normally a season when they are down, non-availability has made them dearer, say vegetable merchants.
The rainfall in vegetable growing areas around the city has been heavy, said Sandeep, a vegetable merchant at Mariyappanapalya. The areas are Chickballapur, Yelahanka, Malur, Kolar, Hoskote and Doddaballapur.
Tomato has shot up from Rs. 20 a kg last month to Rs. 30. Similar is the increase in the prices of brinjal, potatoes, beans and cauliflower. Only onion price is constant, while cucumber alone has crashed. The latter, which was Rs. 8 apiece last month, is now available for Rs. 2. There's a reason for this too: people avoid cucumber in winter.
Jaya Prakash, a third generation vegetable vendor in Russell Market, agreed that the price rise this time of the year was unusual. He reckoned it would fall in a fortnight.
On Thursday, the price of tomato stabilised after 100 tonnes were sourced from Nasik, said G.M. Venkatesh, an executive with a vegetable retail chain. Otherwise, it was heading for Rs. 40 a kg.
Arun Kumar Agarwal, shopping at Russel Market, blamed the Central Government's inept farm policy which discouraged growers.
Nagamani Rao of Kengeri advised people to create kitchen gardens with even limited space. Vegetables can be grown even in pots, she said. She herself has one, which takes care of at least four days' vegetable quota for her family of four.
