Vegetables become costlier amid supply shortage

After LPG cylinder, rising prices of tomatoes and green vegetables are jeopardising the common man's kitchen budget. In the national capital, tomatoes are being sold for Rs 60-80; while in many cities its prices have reached Rs 100 amid shortfall in supply.

Apart from tomatoes, green vegetables have also gone costlier in comparison to the last week. As per vendors, these prices will increase further in the coming days as they argue "vegetables often become expensive during the rainy season".

According to traders at Azadpur and Ghazipur Mandi, Asia's largest vegetable and fruit market, the arrival of tomato (in the market) has fallen down to about a third, leading to a steep rise in its prices. Tomato is selling at Rs 65-80 per kg in the retail market.

Lemon is being sold in Delhi for Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg. Similarly, brinjal is at Rs 60 to 80 per kg, calabash (laoki) Rs 50, cauliflower Rs 100 to Rs 120, onion and potato Rs 40, capsicum Rs 100 to Rs 130, carrot Rs 80 and spinach is being sold at Rs 60 per kg.

Other vegetables are also becoming expensive amid the shortfall in supply, said a trader, adding that the farmers have not planted new crops due to fear of loss, which would further increase the prices of vegetables in coming days.