Rains leave vegetable prices soaring

Rains leave vegetable prices soaring
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Rains may have proved to be a curse to many, but the monsoon has indelibly hottened up the vegetable market. The prices of fruits and vegetables are on a par with the rising water levels in rivers and dams.

As moisture-induced fungus leads to faster decay of the vegetables, the common man, who was purchasing them once a week, now buys twice a week. Common vegetables like Potatoes, Onions and Tomatoes have become costlier.

Vegetables and fruits are transported from Kalasi Palayam, Hebbal, Ramapuram, Koramangala and Hosakote.

“I bring vegetables from Yeshwanthpur every morning with great difficulty. I have to pay double the transpotation charges compared to pre-monsoon times due to bad road conditions. Hence we have to increase the rates,” says Masood, a vegetable vendor.

Beans, Carrots and Raddish decay faster due to fungus and this has led to increase in prices.

“The rates of leafy vegetables do not vary to a large extent unlike those of fruits and vegetables,” says Nissar Ahmed.

Prices of fruits show a marginal increase. Abdul Khalid, a fruit vendor, says rates are not much affected by the rain. Seasonal fruits like apples, peaches, plums and cherries do not show variations.

The rates of perishable commodities show no difference in man’s purchasing pattern nor in their sale. The demand and supply has not been affected. Only the method of bringing these commodities to the stall has become difficult and expensive.