Vegetable prices soar
The prices of vegetables, which have shot up with the rise in the mercury levels, are expected to maintain the current high levels till July.
Prices of carrot, beetroot and cabbage have moved up, while those of other vegetables have remained at last month’s levels in the city.
“In the wholesale market, a kg of cabbage was selling at Rs 3 to Rs 4 last year, while now it is priced at Rs 12 to Rs 13. This is mainly due to the drop in acreage of cabbage cultivation,” said Koyambedu Vegetable Market Merchants’ Association president S. Chandran.
The prices of carrot and beetroot have also increased in the last one week because of the low quantity of arrivals from Andhra Pradesh markets. “We are sending carrots to peripheral markets in AP,” said Chandran.
Coriander prices have doubled in the last one week because of lack of water.
It is now selling between Rs 60 and Rs 80 for 1 kg.
“Coriander is a 20-30 days crop and because of the dearth of water there has been less crop,” said Chandran.
The vegetable prices are expected to be at its peak during summer, said Dr N. Raveendran, national consultant for National Agricultural Innovation Project.
“Summer showers will further raise the prices, as the heavy raindrops will destroy the standing crop and wash away pollen grain and flowers,” he said.
While vegetables prices are high, egg prices have also increased in recent times due to the high cost of poultry feed.
“We have added two more paisa to the farm gate price of an egg, which now stands at Rs 2.75. In the retail market, an egg is priced at Rs 3,” said the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), Namakkal zone coordinator, V.S. Balasubramaniam.
Post new comment