Insufficient rain and intense heat wave-like conditions for weeks together have skyrocketed vegetable prices in Kolkata. While potato and fruit prices remained the same, the sabzi mandi is on fire!
Consumers have been feeling the pinch since Monday. On Thursday, tomatoes at Lake Market were being sold for Rs 120 per kg and brinjal was pegged at Rs 150 per kg compared to Rs 80 and Rs 100 respectively last week. “Due to insufficient rain and extreme heat in the past several weeks, tons of crops have been affected leading to this sudden price hike,” said Umesh Sinha, a vegetable vendor at Lake Market.
At Behala market, vegetables are sold at a cheaper rate compared to Lake Market, but this price hike has had its impact here too. “This price pattern is likely to stay throughout the monsoon. This is the time when new crops are being sowed and it would take at least two to three months for the same to reach the market. If it rains more than the average level, prices would shoot up further. Otherwise, vegetables would become cheaper just before the Pujas,” said Dilip Patra, a vendor at Behala market.
Potato and onion prices unaffected
Customers have a tough time choosing vegetables suiting the pocket at a market in south Kolkata
Meanwhile, potato and onion prices are the same. At Jadubabur Bazar, different varieties of potatoes were being sold between Rs 15 and Rs 22 per kg and onions at Rs 35 per kg. “Unlike vegetables, onions and potatoes are stored in large quantities in cold storages and released when required and hence the price of these commodities have not been affected. Also, the bumper production of onion and potato has kept the price stable,” said Kamala Das, a vendor at Jadubabur Bazar.
Fruits not affected
Fruit prices have not changed much as most of the crop is procured from other states. For instance, apples are brought from Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, pomegranate comes from Maharashtra and mangoes from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar. “Hence the erratic weather pattern here has not affected the fruit prices. In fact, mangoes are cheaper now,” said Ratan Saha, a fruit vendor at Lake Market.
Out of reach for the common man
The sudden price rise has put the common man in a spot
The sudden price rise has put the common man in a spot. “Weekly, I (usually) spend anything between Rs 500 and Rs 700 on vegetables. This week, my budget has shot up by about Rs 150. This extra expense is too much for a retired person like me,” said Sameer Nath, at Jadubabur Bazar.
“Thankfully, potato and onion prices are the same and that’s a huge relief. Brinjal and gourd are out of my reach. I don’t know what’s in store for the middle class,” said Sadhana Mukherjee, at Gariahat.