Vegetable prices nose-dive in UP post demonetisation

Potato is being sold at Rs 5 per kg as compared to the Rs 24 per kg before demonetisation while onion and tomato are being sold at half their earlier price of Rs 20 per kg.

Kanpur, Dec 13: Vegetable prices in Kanpur have declined by more than 50 per cent after demonetisation and the sellers are giving away their extra stocks to those in need absolutely free of cost.

Potato is being sold at Rs 5 per kg as compared to the Rs 24 per kg before demonetisation while onion and tomato are being sold at half their earlier price of Rs 20 per kg.

Left with heavy stock of potatoes and less number of customers, some farmers are giving away sacks of potatoes to the needies for free. "The group of farmers here have given nearly 400 sacks of potatoes for the prisoners," a personnel of Kanpur jail said.

"Since new potato is already in the market while we still have our stock of old potatoes from the cold storage, we are giving out such potatoes free of cost at the weddings and to those in need," said Mahesh Sharma, a vegetable vendor. The prices have declined for other vegetables also by nearly 50 to 60 per cent.

"People are buying less vegetable since they do not have cash with them and despite the low price they are only purchasing the amount of vegetables that they really need," said another vegetable vendor, Kamlesh Kumar from Ghatampur. "And due to the lack of customers we are forced to sell the vegetables at low prices," he added.

PTI