Loss of yield, supply chain woes push veggie prices north

Ranchi: After battling the breakdown of civic amenities due to the heavy downpour last week, the residents of the state capital are now feeling the pinch of a sharp rise in vegetable prices. Vendors and buyers are blaming supply disruptions, inundated agricultural fields, and perishable character of the items as key reasons behind the sudden inflation.Staple items are becoming increasingly unaffordable. "We used to buy 1kg of tomatoes. Today, we are adjusting by using half of that or skipping it. Capsicum is also out of our budget. We're limiting our meals to basics," said Uttam Kumar, a resident of Harmu Road.Echoing her frustration, schoolteacher Jyoti Tirkey said, "Every vegetable costs above Rs 40 per kg. This hits everyone, not just the poor. Middle-class families are thinking twice before buying greens.""We are using tamarind pulp or dried mango powder in place of tomatoes in curries. Even coriander is off the menu. It's too costly to maintain regular taste profiles at these prices," said Simant Kumar, who runs a students' mess at Lalpur.A vegetable seller at Lalpur Chowk, Sangita, said, "Rain has spoiled half our stock. I bring fewer vegetables now, but still can't sell much. Customers argue over prices, but it's not in our hands. We are barely recovering costs." "The produce is arriving in poor condition due to heavy rainfall in the farms. Moisture is causing vegetables to rot faster and transportation is delayed due to flooded roads in rural areas," said Ravi Sahu, a vendor at the Kokar Vegetable Market.A seller at Morabadi Market, Rekha Devi, said, "Farms are waterlogged, harvesting is delayed, and the vegetables are perishing fast. We are barely recovering our input costs."Vendors warn that prices may rise further if rains continue to batter the supply chain. "Unless the weather stabilises and rural roads are cleared, prices won't come down anytime soon," said a trader at Upper Bazaar.District horticulture officer (DHO) Mahesh Raj said, "Protective cultivation is still very limited in and around Ranchi. Most farmers rely on open cultivation, which is impacted by the vagaries of nature. Crops like tomatoes are highly sensitive to excess moisture. Even short-term waterlogging leads to rotting, drastically reducing supply and spiking prices."