The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Vegetables cost more in retail markets

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Saturday, Jan 31, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Vegetables cost more in retail markets

K.Lakshmi

CHENNAI: A significant drop in the prices of most vegetables in wholesale market in recent weeks is yet to get fully reflected in the retail markets. Residents of several localities patronising vegetable vendors in the neighbourhood complain that the prices are high, forcing them to cut down their purchases.

Vendors at Koyambedu wholesale market say the arrivals at the market have improved after the truckers’ strike was called off earlier this month, on the back of a good harvest. This has also led to the vegetable prices dropping considerably for the past two weeks.

Tomatoes that soared to nearly Rs.45 a kg in September last year are now priced at Rs.5 to Rs.6 a kg, depending on variety.

Every day, the market receives about 60 lorry loads of vegetables, which according to the traders is sufficient to meet the demand. Tomatoes come from Srinivasapuram and Kolar in Karnataka and Punganur and Palamaner in Andhra Pradesh.

In retail markets, tomatoes are priced at Rs.10-Rs.14 a kg. Brinjals that cost Rs.3-Rs.4 a kg in the wholesale market are priced at Rs.14-Rs.15 per kg in the retail market.

The wholesale price of lady’s fingers is Rs.10 a kg, whereas in the retail market it is sold at Rs.22-Rs.24 a kg. Beans and carrots, priced at Rs.12 and Rs.10 a kg respectively in the wholesale market, cost double in the retail markets.

Vendors at the Koyambedu market said most of the vegetables are priced below Rs.12 a kg. The direct sale of vegetables to other districts such as Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Tindivanam, has reduced the demand and led to fall in wholesale prices.

Some of the expensive vegetables in the wholesale market include drumsticks at Rs.40 a kg and small onions at Rs.20 a kg.

These vegetables cost Rs.10 more in the retail market.

Retail vendors in the city said as the transportation cost and labour charges have to be included, their rates are relatively high. With the transportation charges expected to reduce in the coming days, following the reduction in the diesel price, the retail prices would also soften, they said.

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