Kurnool: The scorching heat in the region has resulted in a significant surge in vegetable prices, adding to the difficulties of the city's inhabitants. Fewer stocks of vegetables are seen in markets as production was seriously affected due to the summer heat.
Essential vegetables now cost around Rs 50-60 per kilo. Prices of chillies, capsicum, beans, beetroot and carrots rose sharply. Drumsticks are sold at Rs 150-250 per kilo.
Even as more farmers took to vegetable cultivation in recent times, there exists a substantial gap between demand and supply of vegetables.
Farmers are focus on horticultural crops in many mandals. In Kurnool district, vegetables occupy approximately 35,000 hectares of land, accounting for 3.25 per cent of the total crop area and 36.50 per cent of the horticultural crop area.
Tomato prices range between Rs 45-60 per kilo, while green chillies sell at Rs 60-80. Other vegetables include beetroot (Rs 60-70), potato (Rs 40-50), raw banana (Rs 10-15 each), capsicum (Rs 60-75), bitter gourd (Rs 40-50), bottle gourd (Rs 30-40), broad beans (Rs 60-75), cabbage (Rs 25-30), carrot (Rs 60-70), cauliflower (Rs 30-40 each), cluster beans (Rs 50-60), Colocasia (chema) (Rs 60-75), drumsticks (Rs 150-250), brinjal (Rs 40-50), French beans (Rs 100-130), sweet potato (Rs 40-50), ginger (Rs 150-200), ladies finger (Rs 50-60), radish (Rs 35-40) and ridge gourd (Rs 50-60) per kilo.
“We are preparing traditional recipes but are not getting enough of vegetables due to the summer heat. We prefer low-cost vegetables. But, the prices now are too high,” said B Satyavathi, a housewife from Guru Raghavendra Nagar.
She said even hotels were serving less of vegetable dishes in these days due to the high prices.
The major vegetable crops in the area include gourds, ladies finger, beans, brinjal, carrot, tomato, green chillies and leafy vegetables.
Pathikonda has the highest concentration of vegetable crops, followed by Dornipadu and Devanakonda. Mandals such as Jupadu Bangalow, Tuggali, and Kothapalle also cultivate vegetables.
Additionally, 47 other mandals are cultivating vegetables.
Tomatoes are primarily grown in Pathikonda, Peapully, Tuggali, and Aspari. Beans are cultivated in Kodumur, while ladies finger are grown in Dornipadu, Allagadda, Rudravaram, Koilakuntla and other areas of Nandyal. Green chillies are mainly produced in Pagidyala and Jupadu Bungalow, while brinjal cultivation is prominent in Adoni and Midtur and Aspari.
Green leafy vegetables are cultivated in Kallur, Nandyal, Maddikera, Bandi Atmakur and Holagunda. Carrots are grown in limited areas of C Belagal and Gudur mandals in Kurnool, agriculture officials said.
“Due to non-availability of vegetables in the district due to the heat conditions, we need to transport them from other parts of the state. Once the monsoon showers come, the vegetable supply will improve here,” said Mahaboob, a vegetable trader in local Rythu Bazar.
