Veggie prices soar through the roof

Coimbatore: Vegetable prices have been skyrocketing in Coimbatore for the past two months, thanks to a dip in yield and subsequent supply. For instance, the retail price of beans has shot up to 200 per kilogram in Coimbatore from 60-70 two months ago. Sources attribute this surge in price to the intense heatwave and water scarcity that have affected the yield and supplies to the wholesale market. The upward trend in vegetable prices is upsetting the middle-class family budget. M Radha, a housewife from Nethajipuram at Ondiputhur, said they had stopped buying vegetables from grocery shops. “Now, we are purchasing them only from the weekly market at Nethajipuram on Saturdays, as the rates are comparatively lower. I go for vegetables that are comparatively cheaper.”

T Shanmugasundaram, a farmer from Madukkarai in the district, said the prices of bitter gourd, snake gourd, ridge gourd, broad beans and green chilli had crossed the 100 mark per kilogram in the retail market. “Prices of these vegetables have doubled in the past two months. The drought-like conditions prevailed in summer have affected the yield.”Five days ago, he said, tomato was priced at 20-25 per kilogram. “Now, the price has increased to 35-40. The price will go up further. The supply of beans and carrot arrivals has drastically come down. Traders from Kerala come here and buy large quantities of vegetables at higher prices. This also is a reason for the price hike. Kerala is fully dependent on Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for vegetables,” Shanmugasundaram said.G A Wahab, a wholesale trader from MGR Market, said the vegetable cultivation had drastically reduced in Coimbatore. “Farmlands are diminishing and becoming plots. We get most of the vegetables from Karnataka. Beans are not cultivated here. It comes from Karnataka. Lemon is now priced at 160 per kilogram against 80 in February. The wholesale price of cowpeas has soared to 50-60 from 20-25 earlier. Beetroot from Ooty was priced at 30 per kilogram earlier, now it is priced at 70-80 per kilogram.”Ameer Abbas, a trader from Thiyagi Kumaran Market, said the overall vegetable cultivation had reduced in Tamil Nadu. “We are now depending on Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and even Maharashtra for vegetables. We get 40% of our vegetables from Karnataka. Some vegetables like bitter gourd, snake gourd and ridge gourd are cultivated in Coimbatore and surroundings. While green chilli is produced locally, we mostly get the same from Karnataka. The prices were lower until February. The prices have been steadily increasing after that.”
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