Vegetable and fruit prices have risen by 15-50 per cent because of the delayed monsoon and short supply.
Vegetable and fruit prices have risen by 15-50 per cent because of the delayed monsoon and short supply.
MUMBAI: The delayed monsoon and scorching heat have taken their toll on vegetable and fruit prices in the city. While wholesalers at the Navi Mumbai market say prices have risen only slightly, much of the steep hike — ranging from 15 to 50 per cent — has been imposed by retail vendors. Peas are selling for Rs50 per kilo and chillies are stinging harder at Rs30 a kilo.
“No vegetable is available for less than Rs25 per kg, an average increase of 40 per cent in the last two weeks,” said Kiran Zodge, chairman of the Vashi and Byculla vegetable markets. The price rise is the result of reduced stocks reaching the Navi Mumbai market and shorter shelf life because of the heat. “To make up for the loss, retailers are charging exorbitant rates,” said Zodge.
Chandrakant Ramana, vice-president of the onion-potato market, said the quantity of vegetables coming in from Pune just isn’t enough. Wholesale prices are expected to rise by 20 per cent in the next 20 days unless the monsoon returns.
Vashi retailer Ramesh Shetty said, “For the past few weeks I’ve been purchasing only as much as required, and yet most of the vegetables rot by evening. We have to increase rates to make up for the losses.”
The prices of fruits, grains, milk, fish and meat are also soaring. According to fruit trader Bhagwan Bhende, “Apples and mangoes are costliest right now with a kilo of imported apples costing Rs100 and a dozen good quality Alphonso mangoes selling for Rs300.”
He blamed the increase on the seasons: “Every season there is fluctuation in prices owing to short supply. Most of the fruits selling now are coming from cold storage.” He said prices would climb down in a month as new stocks arrive.
Fish is also priced at twice its usual cost. Affected by the fuel price increase, fishermen have passed on the cost to consumers. Catches are also smaller as the seas are getting dangerous for fishing.
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