Cauliflower has been clocking over Rs100 per kg for the past two days in the city's retail markets following a 40-75% supply shortage in wholesale markets because of spoilage.
Spring onions, pointed gourd, French beans and cluster beans, too, have crossed over Rs100 per kg. Spring onions are selling for Rs100-130 per kg in most retail markets, while pointed gourd and French beans for Rs110 and Rs120, respectively.
Tomatoes and onions became dearer by various degrees before Diwali.
Wholesalers in the Market Yard said the situation was unlikely to improve in the next two months because vegetables in fields were destroyed. They claimed that prices were likely to remain the same or increase until fresh produce came from farmers after they have sown another batch.
Pradeep Khatal, a member in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), attributed the sudden increase in vegetable prices of late to a 50-75% drop in supply to the Market Yard following rainfall in Solapur, Baramati and Indapur among other locations five days ago. "The rain had a severe effect on some vegetables, especially cauliflower and beans. High vegetable prices and shortage are expected to continue till January at least, when we are expected to get the new vegetable stock from farmers," he said.
Sobodh Zende, a vegetable wholesaler in the Market Yard, said "not only have vegetable supplies in the wholesale market dipped but the vegetables were rotting because of damage caused recently by rain. Close to 20% of supplies rot at the end of the day with retailers."
"The incidence of rotting is more in vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, French beans and leafy vegetables. If a retailer buys 50kg of produce from us, by the end of the day over 12kg of it begins to rot. Hence, the retailers' cost increases, which they transfer on to the customers."
He added the rainy spell from October 5 to 15 resulted in over 40% drop in supplies in the wholesale market, triggering an increase in wholesale vegetable prices by 50% in the past few days.
Inderjan Sen, a vendor in Koregaon Park, said there had been a 60% drop in supplies in the wholesale market in the past two days. "Cauliflower was Rs80 per kg two days ago. Since October 20, it spiked to Rs120 per kg. In addition, we have been unable to get enough coriander," he said.
1 RS = 0.015 USD
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com