Hyderabad: Rain halves vegetable prices, may fall further

Hyderabad: The prices of essential vegetables, except non-local crops, came down by up to 50 per cent on Monday compared to last seven days’ prices.

With good rains, crop production in neighboring districts like Ranga Reddy, Medak, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda has increased. Markets in the city including Rythu Bazaars have been receiving crops from these districts and with more output, the prices have come down.

Mehdipatnam Rythu Bazaar estate officer K. Vijay Kumar said that local crops like tomato, green chilli, brinjal, ladies finger, bottle guard, ribbed guard, snake guard, bitter guard etc. are being supplied from Chevella, Vikarabad and other localities in Ranga Reddy district.

“Similarly, Shankarpally, Nawabpet, Mominpet, Vi-karabad in Ranga Reddy and some parts of Medak are supplying vegetables to Kukatpally and Erragadda Rythu Bazaars. As the production has increased, we are expecting the prices to fall further by next week,” he said.

He added that the prices of some non-local crops had not changed as they were being imported from other states. “Vegetables like French beans, capsicum, onions etc. are not available locally. As the rains are good in the neighboring states too, we are expecting the prices to fall for these vegetables too,” he said.

Compared to the same day last year, on Monday the prices of both local and non-local vegetables are lower. For example, tomato was available at Rs 23 per kg last year on July 11, and on Monday it was Rs 17 per kg at Rythu Bazaars, an official said.