Vegetables prices soar in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Not only the price of tomatoes and green chillies but even that of ridge gourd, capsicum, brinjal and other vegetables has been increasing in the retails markets across the city since Id. 

The traders say the prices will increase further as there is a huge gap between demand and supply. While the cost of green chillies has risen to Rs 60 per kg, the price of tomatoes has gone up to Rs 60 a kg in a majority of the retail markets. 

Though the price of green chillies and tomatoes is a little less at the Rythu Bazaars in the city when compared to the retail stores, the quality of vegetables at Rythu Bazaars is not so good. 

The retail price of ridge gourd, capsicum and bringal per kg is Rs 40, Rs 45 and Rs 40 respectively. 

Just a week ago, all the vegetables were available at affordable prices.

“We procure green chillies from East Godavari, Vizianagaram and also parts of Odisha. The produce from these regions is sufficient to meet the local demand. But the recent heavy rains damaged the crops and also  hit the transportation making procurement a tough task,” says P. Anand Kumar, a vegetable vendor at MVP Colony in the city. 

Vendors at various markets said that Vizag requires at least 20 tonne of tomatoes, 10 tonne of brinjal, 5 tonne of capsicum and ridge gourd each and around 10 tonne of green chillies a day. But, the arrival of the vegetables to the city from various parts has come down by 50 per cent. Hence, the vegetables have become dearer, they added.

“Most used vegetables such as tomatoes, green chillies, ridge gourd and a few others are short in supply. We expect the prices of vegetables will come down soon as there are chances of fresh crop arrival,” said K. Varahalu, estate officer of MVP Colony Rythu Bazaar.