Vegetable prices shoot up in city

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 3. The recent developments in Tamil Nadu seem to have affected the arrival of vegetables in the city markets thus paving the way for a steep rise in the price of vegetables.

Though the vegetable prices were expected to come down by the end of June, the non-arrival of lorries with vegetables from Tamil Nadu following the arrest of the former Chief Minister, Mr. K. Karunanidhi, has resulted in the rise of prices, according to traders.

While 15 to 17 truckload of vegetables used to arrive in the Chalai market thrice a week, the arrival has been poor from Saturday. Only three trucks with vegetables arrived in the Chalai market on Sunday. Traders also say they are unable to purchase vegetables from the markets at Nagercoil and Tirunelveli due to the temporary cancellation of bus services and also due to the closing down of several markets due to problems in Tamil Nadu.

The prices of one kg tomatoes has gone up to Rs. 24 from Rs. 16, green chillies from Rs. 12.50 to Rs. 23, carrot from Rs. 13 to Rs. 25, bittergourd from Rs. 11 to Rs. 20, beans from Rs. 9 to Rs. 15, cabbage from Rs. 9 to Rs. 14 and cauliflower from Rs. 18 to Rs. 25.

Meanwhile, the Horticorp has fixed the prices for vegetables at a lesser price. The wholesale price for green chilly is Rs. Rs. 13 for a kg while brinjal is priced Rs. 9, cauliflower at Rs. 22, carrot at Rs. 16, cabbage at Rs. 11 and bittergourd at Rs. 16. However, the prices are high in the open markets.

The prices of vegetables arriving from Ootty and certain parts of Kambam and Theni such as raddish and turnip have also gone up. Raddish from Ootty is priced Rs. 26 a kg and turnip at Rs. 22.50 a kg. The prices were Rs. 20 a kg and Rs. 16 respectively a week before.

Amidst the hike in the prices of some vegetables, some varieties of vegetables such as snake gourd, tapioca, amaranthus, cucumber and elephant foot yam (Chena) which are available from several parts of the State have been spared the price rise due to their availability in plenty. While tapioca is available at Rs. 5 a kg, yam is available at Rs. 8 a kg. A medium sized cucumber is priced Rs. 7.50 while a bunch of amaranthus is available at Rs. 3.

At the same time, the arrival of leafy vegetables such as palak, methi and dhal green have been less in the markets. While a bunch of these leafy vegetables were available at Rs. 6 each, the prices have gone up to Rs. 8 a bunch.

Meanwhile, the closure of "Uzhavar sandhai" (farmer's markets without mediators) at several parts of the State by the Tamil Nadu Government is also stated as one of the reasons for the rise in vegetable prices. A wholesale trader in Chalai said though some of such markets are functioning in Tamil Nadu, the closure of these markets at certain parts of Nagercoil, Valliyur, Theni and Tirunelveli have caused difficulties for the traders for the purchase of vegetables.

Though the traders procure vegetables from several parts of State such as Parakkode near Adoor, Mannarkad near Palakkad and also from some rural areas, it is not sufficient to meet the demands of consumers, they say.

Though the prices are still remaining at its peak, the wholesale traders say the prices are likely to be come down once the arrival of vegetables from Tamil Nadu becomes normal.

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