Festive season & monsoon spike vegetable prices

Panaji: Prices of vegetables in Goa have been witnessing a gradual rise over the last couple of weeks amid an increase in demand due to the Hindu holy month of Shravan and the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi. Prices have also been affected due to quality deterioration of produce during storage and transportation in the monsoon.

Tomatoes have seen a rise from Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg, while onion prices have also spiked from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg. Potato rates have also increased from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg. As the festival approaches, the prices are expected to increase further.

Burhanuddin Mulia, a vegetable vendor at the Panaji municipal market, said prices fluctuate frequently due to the rainy season and the demand for the vegetables. “The price of tomatoes was Rs 80 last month. It was Rs 40 two weeks ago, and now, it has risen to Rs 50. It really depends on the quality we get and the demand,” said Mulia.

A major part of Goa’s vegetable demand is met by supply coming in from Belagavi. But due to various reasons such as the cost of cultivation, the prices of locally grown vegetables have also risen. Three small locally grown ridged gourds, or a similar quantity of bitter gourds, are now sold for Rs 100.

Mohammad Haris, a vegetable vendor at Panaji, said customers are not happy with the quality of vegetables. “And with the price hike, it doesn’t justify the amount they are paying,” he said.

Consumers said that for leafy vegetables like methi, raddish, coriander, etc, the prices may not seem to have been hiked, but the size of the bunches has significantly reduced. The state horticulture corporation, on its part, has said that it is supplying vegetables at subsidised rates, but the number of its stalls may fall short of the demand.

Satyender Chaudhary, a customer from Mala, said that high prices often lead him to buy vegetables in decreased quantities. “The prices are always high. Even if it reduces by Rs 10, we still end up paying more for the quantity of vegetables we used to pay for before. It is unfair,” said a customer from Taleigao.

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