Price of veggies soar in Kodagu

Drought in different parts of the state has hit production of vegetables. The prices of vegetables have skyrocketed in view of the prevailing drought this time in the district.

The prices of beans, tomato, chilly, capsicum and other vegetables have increased drastically in the last few days.

With the increase in area under cultivation of coffee, cardamom, pepper and arecanut, the cultivation of vegetables have declined in the district. Only a few individuals cultivate leafy vegetables in their kitchen garden. As a result, the vegetables are coming to the district from outside areas. This has led to increase in their prices.

Not only the common man, but hotel owners  are also feeling the effect of price rise in the district. 

Compared to April, the price of vegetables have gone up by Rs 10 to Rs 20 in this month.

The green chilly has turned too hot for the customers. It was sold between Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg last month. Now, its price has increased to Rs 60 per kg.

A vegetable vendor said, “Green chillies come from Hassan district. With water shortage, the production has reduced drastically in Hassan. Capsicum requires good water supply for cultivation. With the drought-like situation, the production has reduced. The Capsicum price has increased from Rs 36 to Rs 60.” Similarly, the price of Beans has been increased by Rs 20 per kg.

The price of sambar cucumber, radish, carrot and cabbage has also increased. The prices of banana, ivy gourd, drum stick, ash gourd, potato, brinjal, okra has remained stable while that of snake gourd, ridge gourd and beetroot has declined to some extent.

Ramesh, a vegetable vendor, said, “There has been a decline in the supply of vegetables to the market. The supply of leafy vegetables has declined drastically. We are selling the locally available leafy vegetables.”