Veggie prices soar up to 100%

JAIPUR: The unexpected rain and hailstorm for the past couple of days have hit domestic production of vegetables in the state. Besides, arrival of vegetables from other states has also been affected. This has led to a sharp rise in prices of vegetables in Jaipur.
Be it spinach or tomatoes, the prices of most of the vegetables have almost doubled. Price of spinach which was sold at Rs 8 per kg in wholesale market on Friday has increased to Rs 16 on Monday.Similarly, prices of methi and cabbage which were only Rs 8 per kg on Friday have gone up to Rs 25 and Rs 12 per kg, respectively.
Tomatoes, which were coming from Chomu and nearby areas of Jaipur, have stopped arriving at Muhana mandi, leading to rise in its price from Rs 12 per kg to Rs 20 per kg in three days.
"The instant effect of unseasonal rain can be witnessed on all food items. Green and leafy vegetables which are difficult to store and are easily perishable have been affected most," says Radheyshyam Phatak, president of Rajasthan Fruits and Vegetable Wholesale Traders Association.
Phatak said, "Leafy vegetables could not sustain downpour in this season. They are completely destroyed. Total losses are yet to be calculated as information from several districts has not reached us so far."
Meanwhile, traders have warned that prices of vegetables will rise further in the coming days. They claimed hailstorm in Farrukhabad in UP, major supplier of potatoes and Nasikgaon (Maharashtra) received heavy rainfall.
"Major suppliers of vegetables to Rajasthan are bordering Haryana, UP and Punjab. In all these places damage, vegetables were mostly affected. Consumers can expect a sharp rise in days ahead as their inflow in the state is likely to decrease," said Ashok Agarwal, a vegetable trader in Muhana mandi.
Apart from vegetables, fruit prices are also shooting up. Kinnow in Ganganagar and oranges in Baran and Jhalawar have been hit by rain. Grapes that were to come in the market from Maharashtra are unlikely to be available. Pomegranate which were expected for bumper harvest due to increasing in sowing area have been lost due to hailstorm.