Rains aftermath: Vegetables, fruits price doubled in Bengaluru, Chennai

Bengaluru/Chennai, Nov 19: As heavy rains and floods have created havoc in Tamil Nadu and has claimed at least 87 lives, the vegetable prices have shoot up.

In the wake of shortage of supplies from neighbouring states, the IT City Bengaluru, that witnessed incessant rains since last one week, the vegetables and fruits prices have seen a significant surge.

Due to heavy downpour and water-clogged roads, the vegetable and fruit supply has led to a shortage, that is the main reason behind high prices.

In Bengaluru, the wholesale K R market, that is known for cheap price for selling veggies, has also risen the price up to 50 percent jump from previous rates.

Prices of tomatoes have doubled in last one week from Rs 28-30 per kg to Rs 80 per kg.

Besides, onions, potatoes, capsicum, cauliflower, carrots, green peas, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, brinjal, beetroot, drumstick, spinach, cucumber, pumpkin, lady finger, lemon among other vegetables have registered a sharp increase in their prices.

The unseasonal rains that damaged the crops grown by farmers has also burnt a hole in the pockets of common men, with unaffordable price.

Horticultural Producer's Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society Limited (HOPCOMS) sources said that the steep price hike is the result of dip in the supply of vegetables. Consumers will have to shell out more money for at least two-three weeks more.

Bengaluru gets its most of the vegetables from Mandya, Hoskote, Kolar, Hassan and other nearby states like Tamil Nadu.

Online grocery stores too suffer from shortage

Popular online grocery portals like BigBasket and Zopnow have also announced that they too suffer from the shortage of fresh vegetables and fruits.

In Chennai, the retail price of tomato has gone up to Rs 140 a kg and that of beans around Rs 110 per kg as supplies from neighbouring States have drastically dwindled.

On Nov 3, Members of People's Welfare Front, comprising of MDMK, Left parties and VCK, had staged a protest against cost inflation of pulses and vegetables at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai on Tuesday.

On the whole, the prices of vegetables are ruling high due to the rains and its impact can be seen on farmers, traders, retailers, wholesalers, vendors and buyers.

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