The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Vegetable prices soar

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Thursday, Jun 09, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Vegetable prices soar

K. Lakshmi

Fall in yields, lesser arrivals escalate price of beans

Rains in neighbouring States have also contributed to the cost escalation

— Photo: K. Pichumani

Escalating prices have made some vegetables out of reach for consumers.

CHENNAI: After onions that created a record among vegetables that went beyond consumers' reach, beans is following suit. Fall in yields and lesser arrivals of the vegetable to the city have escalated its price to Rs.70-Rs.80 a kg in the retail market.

According to traders in the Koyambedu wholesale market, beans are being sold up to Rs.60 in the wholesale market as the supply is less from places such as Hosur. Broad beans are also costly and priced at Rs.40 per kg in the retail shops. The market gets its supply of broad beans from localities including Dindigul.

Rains in neighbouring States which supply to the city have also contributed to the cost escalation of some vegetables, traders said. P.Rajini, a resident of Ashok Nagar, said that she was buying lesser quantity of her usual purchase as many of her favourite vegetables had become expensive. “Some vegetables are costly even at the Koyambedu wholesale market,” she said.

C.S. Harikrishnan, a trader in the Koyambedu market, said even seasonal vegetables such as carrots, double beans and green peas are priced high. This is more than their cost this time last year. One drumstick costs Rs.6. Cabbage is one of the few vegetables affordable and is priced at Rs.10 a kg.

Ladies Finger that was sold for Rs.15 a kg until a week ago now costs Rs.22 in the wholesale market and sold for Rs.28 in retail shops. Bitter gourd and snake gourd, which are usually priced less, now cost Rs.20-Rs.25 per kg, he said.

However, onions and tomatoes that are relatively cheap bring some relief to vegetable shoppers. While onions cost Rs.18 a kg, tomatoes are sold for Rs.16 a kg.

K.Murugan, who runs a vegetable shop in Korattur, said many residents have started buying 100 g of vegetables such as beans and carrot as they are expensive. “I sell vegetables for Rs.8-Rs.10 more than the wholesale price. I will otherwise suffer a loss as I have to cover transportation charges,” he said.

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