Vegetables off the menu as prices go through roof

NEW DELHI: Green vegetables are fast vanishing from the dining tables in Delhi's average household because of skyrocketing prices in the market.
On an average, traders say, there has been a 10 per cent -20 per cent increase in wholesale prices of onions, potatoes, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables in the mandis, while in retail market the increase is anywhere between 50 per cent -150 per cent .

Metha Ram Kriplani, president, Chamber of Azadpur Fruit and Vegetable Traders, said there is no government control on retailers. "The wholesale prices have gone up by 10 per cent -20 per cent . But the retailers are making a killing in the name of short supply. Even the big retail chains are pricing the vegetables double or triple the wholesale price," he added.

Kriplani said increase in vegetable prices during the rainy season is common. "Due to heavy rains, vegetables get damaged. This causes shortage of supplies as compared to the demand, thus, causing increase in prices. This is going to continue for a month at least," he said.

Data shows the average price of onion in the wholesale market at the beginning of the month (July 1) was Rs 16 per kg but now it has gone up to Rs 18 per kg. The price of pointed gourd (parval) and ladies' fingers have gone up from Rs 14 per kg to Rs 22.50 per kg and Rs 11 to Rs 15 per kg respectively.

TOI visited major retail chains and roadside vendors to find that they were selling the vegetables at even higher price, thus looting the customers. One supermarket in Kailash Colony sold onions at Rs 40 per kg when the wholesale price is Rs 17 kg. Similarly, tomatoes, cucumbers, bottle gourds and other vegetables were being sold with huge profit margins.




"I went to buy some vegetables on Sunday but returned with potatoes and onions only. The green, leafy vegetables were so costly that my wife said we should rather buy them from the mandi," said Mihir Kumar, a resident of East of Kailash. He added that the cost of fruits have gone up too.

"My family comprises seven members. Our weekly expenditure on vegetables has gone up from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 in the past one month. It is affecting our monthly budget," said Nirupam Srivastava, another resident of the area.

Sushmita Yadav, who runs a small restaurant in Munirka, said they have discontinued serving some vegetables items due to increased prices.