Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112250980200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati

A green revolution of sorts

Staff Reporter

Rise in prices spurs shift to leafy vegetables

Photo: K. V. Poornachandra Kumar

Economic nutrient: Tirupati vegetable market abounds in greens. -

TIRUPATI: With the skyrocketing prices of vegetables burning a deep hole in the pocket, the denizens of the temple city have now increasingly taken to leafy vegetables as a matter of ‘no option’.

While it is common knowledge that leafy vegetables are a good source of many vitamins and minerals that our body needs, such as Vitamin A, C, fibre and calcium, the budget-conscious residents have apparently attached more importance to ‘Vitamin M’, a tongue-in-cheek metaphor for ‘Money’.

A visit to the Indira Priyadarshini Municipal Corporation vegetable market in the heart of the city shows a steady rise in the number of takers for leafy vegetables. Unlike in the past when greens were on sale by a handful of vendors, the general vegetable and grocery stalls have also started selling fenugreek (menth aaku), drumstick (munagaaku), amaranthus (thotakoora), Indian spinach (bacchala koora) and palak (paalakoora ), besides the regular coriander, curry leaves and mint (pudina).

With tomato hovering around Rs.30 a kg, the prices of beans, brinjal, potato, capsicum and onion are still far from their normal price. Radish, considered a very cheap vegetable and hence used extensively by the lower income group, also sells around Rs. 20 a kg. From a mind-boggling Rs.100 a kg, the price of green chillis dropped recently within the reach of the common man. All these developments have made the economy-minded gourmet turn towards greens as an alternative. Not that the leafy vegetables are any cheaper, but they are still in the ‘affordable’ bracket. This apart, leafy vegetables afford varied use like preparing plain curry, dhal (pappu) and special rice. “While the preference of those regularly buying greens has not changed, we have observed people – especially those in the middle class – suddenly buying more leafy vegetables than in the past. Needless to say, it’s all because of the prices”, an economics post-graduate, wholesale vegetable dealer told The Hindu.

Looks like what could not be achieved by the endorsement of scientists or advice of medical professionals, has been successfully promoted by inflation!