Chennai: Prices of veggies slump in city markets

Chennai: The prices of vegetables in the wholesale and retail markets plunged across the city, as the inflow of vegetables from various districts and other states has been increasing. Even as the traders attributed the fall in prices to the heavy rainfall and good harvesting, market management committee at Koyambedu pointed out that a sizable number of lorries transporting vegetables to the rain-battered Kerala returned to Koyambedu market, as road infrastructure in Kerala state was badly affected.

According to traders, they have been suffering a lot due to the dip in prices. “We intermittently face such kind of issues. The price of tomato, which a month ago sold at Rs 20, has come down to Rs 8. Similarly, the prices of vegetables like drumstick, brinjal, cabbage, radish and beans have dropped by 50 per cent,” said a trader at Koyambedu market.

Further, the number of lorries coming to Koyambedu has risen to around 400, as many lorries have stopped plying to Kerala. “So, the inflow of vegetables remains as a trigger to the prices,” the trader added.

“Business activity in the Koyambedu market is already dull and heavy rains and floods in Kerala state added to woes of traders. Further, the sluggish business has paved way for reducing turnover of the market,” said V.R. Soundararajan, a member of Market Management Committee. He exuded confidence that such an issue would gradually come to a grinding halt and the market will see brisk business like before.

Meanwhile, vendors from retail markets sell the vegetables at higher prices. “Since vegetables are available in abundance at wholesale markets, we are selling the same at 10 to 20 per cent higher than purchasing price,” said a vendor at Purasawalkam retail market.