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Vegetable prices skyrocket in city

Last Updated 02 August 2016, 20:34 IST

Vegetables have been burning a hole in the common man's pocket as prices have soared in the capital over a month.

Prices of vegetables like lady finger, cabbage, beans, brinjal and bitter gourd have increased by around 40% in the national capital as heavy rain has hit the supply to Delhi-NCR, said an Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) report on Tuesday.

Traders at the Azadpur Mandi, Asia'slargest wholesale fruit and vegetable market, said that farmers have been facing difficulty to transport crops due to stagnant water in their fields. This has led to a shortage of crops, the Assocham’s findings revealed.

The report further said that prices of perishable fruits and vegetables will bear the maximum brunt.

According to the report,cabbage, which was sold at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg in the wholesale market, touched Rs 35 per kg. “Similarly, wholesale price of brinjal varies between Rs 20 and Rs 25 per kg at Azadpur Mandi,” it said. “The crop lying in the field is bound to rot due to heavy rain. The crop is not coming out of fields and hence there is a short supply in the market.”

Online rates no different
Okra (lady finger), which was available for Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg, is now being sold at Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg in the market. In some of the localities in the city, vendors quote Rs 50 for a kg of okra.

“I bought lady finger online a couple of weeks ago. Now, I am not buying it because its prices have almost doubled,” said Priyanka Singh, a resident of Mayur Vihar Phase 1.

Price of green chilli touched Rs 60 per kg, lemon Rs 80 per kg and ginger Rs 120 a kg. While, coriander leaves are being sold at Rs 120 a kg, carrot touched Rs 50 for a kg.

The difference between wholesale prices and retail prices on an average stays around 35 to 40%, the Assocham report said.

While the wholesale prices have benefited middlemen and traders, farmers have been worst hit because their profit margins squeezed badly as consumers are paying unreasonably higher prices, it added.

The Assocham has urged the government to improve infrastructure facility through public private partnership for developing cold storage facilities, which should be provided to those farmers who are bringing their produce from long distance areas.
DH News Service

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(Published 02 August 2016, 20:34 IST)

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