Unreliable weather to push vegetable prices up by 20-25%: Assocham

Prices of vegetables are likely to jump 20-25% in coming days as untimely rains and hailstorms have damaged crops, says a study.

According to the joint study by Assocham-Skymet Weather, at least 25-30 per cent of ready-to-harvest crop has been damaged, impacting wheat procurements that generally begin from April.

The study, titled 'Monsoon 2015: Agri-business Risk or Opportunity', has pointed out that horticulture crops such as mangoes, bananas, grapes, channa have been hit and the impact could be seen in their prices firming up.

Major rabi crops such as wheat, oilseeds and pulses have also taken a big knock due to the untimely rains. Vegetables like tomatoes, cauliflower and coriander are the worst hit, the study added.

Releasing the findings, Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said, "In addition to the untimely rains, temperatures have also gone down, and this could affect the crops. The consumers may have to face the burden in the next few days, with prices of vegetables likely to increase 20-25%."

Untimely rains mean that the threat level from pests has gone up, the report said.

Meanwhile, a government estimate showed that crops in 106.73 lakh hectares across 14 states have been destroyed. The study has also predicted that India could get a normal
monsoon rainfall at 102% of long-period average during June-September this year.