JOIN USSurge in veggie prices, hits growers, buyers alike
Rising mercury level and failure of crops have had a cascading impact not just on farmers, but also on common man as there is a surge in prices of vegetables and fruits.
When compared to the month of March, prices have shot up by 25 to 30% in April. It may increase further, if there is any delay in pre-monsoon rains, fear vegetable vendors. On Thursday, stalls of Horticultural Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS), Mysuru, sold tomato at Rs 18 per kg, beans at Rs 50, green chilli-Rs 40, cucumber-Rs 20, mixed green leaf vegetables-Rs 34, coriander and neem leaves at Rs 80. Except cucumber, many veggies witnessed 30 per cent hike.
HOPCOMS authorities said, city receives vegetables from parts of Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Ramanagar and Chamarajanagar districts. As vegetables are in great demand in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, many major farmers transport their produce to the neighbouring states, they said.
According to a vegetable vendor Kumar at Devaraja Market, drop in supply of vegetables is also one of the reasons for price hike. He said that in spite of high prices, there was demand for fruits like watermelon and muskmelon as people prefer their juice to beat soaring mercury levels.
According to farmers, even though prices are almost double, they are not getting handsome returns owing to crop loss and unaffordable transportation charges.
Ramesh, a farmer, who had brought a tempo load of tomato for sale at a ground near exhibition grounds in the city said, even though the prices are touching sky, farmers are not making windfall, owing to obvious crop loss and other expenses. “About 60 per cent of standing crops have been destroyed due to unavailability of water and excess heat. Insufficient power supply also stopped me from feeding water to crops,” he added.
No rainfall expected in Mysuru: OFRS
Organic Farming Research Station (OFRS), Naganahalli, Mysuru, has predicted that Mysuru district will record a maximum temperature of 37 and a minimum of 23 degree Celsius on Friday, reports DHNS.
The district recorded a maximum temperature of 38 and a minimum of 23 degree Celsius on Thursday. The average temperature is expected to be between 37 and 38 degree Celsius during the day and 23 degree to 24 degree Celsius during the night till April 22. The relative humidity in the morning hours is expected to be 68-78 per cent and afternoon relative humidity is expected to be in the range 26 to 34 per cent. Wind speed expected to be 0-2 km per hour.
No rainfall is expected in the district throughout the week. The station has advised the farmers to take up fall ploughing which will facilitate conservation of rainwater due to pre-monsoon showers.