Navi Mumbai : Housewives are upset as their favourite vegetables are going beyond their reach with each passing day. If the current trend continues, prices are unlikely to come cheaper in near future. Though the wholesellers at the Vashi APMC market expect a course correction with the arrival of fresh stocks in end-August, prices may not dip to the expected level.
A prime reason for spiraling prices in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai is scanty rainfall in June that has led to significant drop in production.
Consumers are already baffled with high prices of onion and potato for the past one-and-half month, now they see more trouble in coming days as tomatoes turn hot. Tomato prices hit the roof for the past two days. On Wednesday, tomato was selling at Rs 60 per kg in Vashi retail outlets as against Rs 30 a week ago.
Narayangaon, a major producer of tomato in Maharashtra, is witnessing dry weather for quite some time and tomato cultivation needs plenty of water that has affected farmers badly, said Samrudhhi Vajiiwla, a native of that area who runs a retail outlets in sector 10, Vashi.
In normal days, the APMC market used to receive nearly 300 tonnes of tomatoes every day, but due to paucity of supply, it has drastically comedown to 200 tonnes, said sources at the APMC market. The short-supply pushed up wholesale tomato prices to Rs 46 per kg as against Rs 18-20 per kg a week ago.
Tomatoes are considered as an essential staple, but its surging price has forced consumers to curtail in buying spree. “I now buy only minimum quantity as it is not only tomato price has hit the roof, but other vegetables such as potato, onion, cauliflower, beans, Lady’s finger, capsicum have also surged, lamented Rima Sarkar, a house-wife, resides in Sanpada.
Now all vegetables become a pricey affair. APMC traders, however, said they had little control over the retail prices of vegetables and fruits. Consumers, on the other hand, awaiting a good start of the monsoon which will ensure a good crop as well as significant drop in retail prices.
APMC traders, however, said they had little control over the retail prices of vegetables and fruits. Consumers, on the other hand, awaiting a good start of the monsoon which will ensure a good crop as well as significant drop in retail prices.
Vegetable price in retail outlets (in/kg)
Potato Rs 26
Onion Rs 30
Tomato Rs 60-80
Cauliflower Rs 60
Capsicum Rs 80
Lady finger Rs 60
Brinjal Rs 50
Green peas Rs 80
Ginger Rs 150
Green chilli Rs 70
Beans Rs 60
Indra Bhadra
