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Prices of veggies, kitchen ingredients hit roof

Last Updated 16 July 2014, 20:34 IST

It is not just the prices of vegetables that have skyrocketed, the prices of other kitchen ingredients like coriander powder, chilli powder, ginger and garlic have also increased, digging a deep hole in the pockets of common man.

While the rate of coriander leaves has come down in the recent days from Rs 165 to Rs 60 per kg in the City, the prices of coriander powder has skyrocketed. For a kg of coriander powder, one has to pay Rs 160 to Rs 200. Three weeks ago, it was priced at Rs 130 per kg. 

George M J, a wholesale manufacturer of spices, maintains that the shortage of rainfall and less supply are the main reasons for the price hike. “I buy chillies and coriander seeds from the APMC yard, Yeshwantpur. The suppliers claim that they do not get enough supply. They earlier used to sell green chillies between Rs 60 -70 per kg, now they sell it to us at Rs 80- Rs 100 a kg. I have hiked the price of chilli powder from Rs 125 to Rs 130 per kg and in the coming days I am planning to increase it further.”

For a kg of ginger, one has to shell out Rs 148 instead of Rs 120. The price of garlic that used to range between Rs 30 and Rs 70 per kg is available at Rs 50- Rs 100. Of the vegetables, tomatoes have seen the sharpest hike in prices. While a fortnight ago, they were priced at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kilo, now they cost Rs 40- Rs 60.  

Increased demand  

R V Gopi, president, Vegetable and Fruit Wholesale Merchants’ Association, attributed the problem to shortage of supply and increased demand. He said: "The farmers, specially from Mandya, Chintamani and other places in Karnataka, supply tomatoes to other parts of the country. They export the produce too. Hence there has been a shortage. Also, the recent rains have destroyed the ripened tomatoes. If there is more supply, the prices might stabilise in the coming days."

The retail price of tomatoes at Hopcoms outlets stood at Rs 27 per kg on July 5 and now it is Rs 56. The price of beans has touched Rs 70 in the last 10 days. 

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(Published 16 July 2014, 20:34 IST)

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