Rising vegetable prices, poor quality hit people

Situation likely to improve by month-end, says official

The prices of vegetables are burning a hole in the pockets of the average middle class people in the city. The steep hike in fuel prices and the damage to crops, during the Cyclone Gulab continue to impact vegetable prices.

Tomatoes are selling at ₹60 a kg at the Rythu Bazaars and in the open market they range between ₹70 and ₹80 a kg. Green peas cost ₹120 a kg, Rajma ₹90 and capsicum was sold at ₹84 a kg at Rythu Bazaars in the city on Wednesday. Their cost in the open market is generally higher by ₹10 to ₹20 a kg, based on the demand.

Though the prices of vegetables are hitting the roof, most of the vegetables were of poor quality but the consumers hardly have a choice both at the Rythu Bazaars and in the open market. The winter season, normally brings with it, fresh vegetables to the market but this year it seems to be different. It is a different matter that vegetables are generally in high demand as a vast majority of the consumers shift to a vegetarian diet during the auspicious Karthika masam apart from ‘Ayyappa’ devotees, who have to strictly follow a vegetarian diet till they have darshan of Sri Ayyappa Swamy in Sabarimala.