After buoyant sales during the Hindu festival of Onam, vegetable farmers in the Kerala find themselves in distress. The market crashed after the festival due to a slump in demand, and vegetable prices have hit rock bottom.
In Palakkad, the price of tomato, which stood at Rs 150 per kg in the first week of August and Rs 35 during Onam, has plunged to Rs 16. There are indications of a further dip in prices in the coming days. At Chelakkara, Thrissur, distressed farmers took to social media, issuing an appeal to customers to purchase their goods.
At the wholesale market at Koduvayur in Palakkad, cowpea is sold at Rs 20 per kg, ladies finger between Rs 10 and Rs 12 per kg, and native brinjal (green) between Rs 10 and Rs 12 per kg, said Faizal, a wholesale dealer. "The post-Onam decline in the prices of vegetables is usual."
[ Rs 100 = €1.10 ]
Source: newindianexpress.com