Vegetable prices soar giving a hard time to consumers

Thiruvananthapuram: Prices of some of the vegetables in the city nearly doubled in the past two days giving a hard time to consumers.

The price of tomato, which was Rs 30 per kg rose to Rs 60 per kg on Wednesday. Shallots were sold at Rs 80 per kg.

The price of beans also doubled within a week as it hiked from Rs 60 to Rs 120 per kg.

The merchants said that there has been a delay in procurement of vegetables which has resulted in the price rise.

“Usually trucks deliver the items from neighbouring states on a daily basis. The delivery has been halted for two days which now reflects in vegetable prices. Without goods arriving on a regular basis there are chances of further increase in price,” said Chandran, a vegetable vendor at Palayam.

Babu a wholesale dealer said that panic buying by some of the residents also resulted in shortage, which forced merchants to increase the price.

“We tell our customers to purchase only what is required,” said Rajan, another vegetable vendor at Palayam market.

The merchants in Chalai said that prices of only some of the vegetables have risen and once goods movement from the border gets smoothened, the prices would come down.

Owing to lockdown, the shops in Chalai and Palayam market wore a deserted look. However, some of the customers turned up to purchase essential commodities, regardless of the price. “We have to purchase things because there is no other way. I came today to purchase commodities for one week,” said Smitha, a resident of Kumarapuram.

Meanwhile, in a meeting of Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari collectors held at Kovalam here on Wednesday, it was decided that goods transport would not be blocked on Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari border.

Only two persons including driver shall be allowed to travel in goods vehicles.