Vegetable Prices: Increase from 10 to 15% in Coming Weeks

Besides the problem with irrigation cuts water supply by the Central Water Authority, the increase in demand for fresh vegetables at this time of Lent on the sidelines of the celebration Cavadee of this week and Maha Shivaratree in two week, growers are facing a real problem of lack of manpower.

The shortage of labor is a serious problem because there is nobody to work the plantations of vegetables, growers say. It is also the fact that we are in a period of prolonged drought. In some areas, farmers have irrigation facilities but in others they suffer for months. Soon, we will be in a red period where prices of many vegetables will experience an increase from 10 to 15%. This increase is likely to last a long time, told the Morning Krepalloo Sunghoon, the President of the Small Planters Association.

Seeds that growers have sown in this period of drought will not germinate. The risk of a shortage of vegetables in the coming weeks are real if not raining. Plantations may go bad. But what is definite is that there will be a price increase.

Prices

At Central market the price of cabbage and carrots that command attention. Sold at Rs 15 or Rs 10 to the pound/unit, two months ago, these vegetables are now available at Rs 35 or Rs 45. A pound of carrots is selling at Rs 25 against Rs 10. The price of love apple has plummeted because of oversupply. The apple of love that was sold at Rs 15 or Rs 20 a pound a few days ago is now available at Rs 30. The price of tomato will continue to climb.

On the shelves, we can notice that the voèmes sell at Rs 25 against Rs 15 a pound, eggplant at Rs 20 against Rs 10, the squashes are sold at Rs 40 l unit against Rs 20, the 'Lalos' Rs 50 to Rs 35 against the pound and the gourds to Rs 20 against Rs 15 unit. The pumpkin is sold at Rs 10 per pound against Rs 5 or Rs 7 before, is also a favourite at Rs 20 against Rs 5. Beans are sold at Rs 45 against Rs 20. The small peppers are sold at Rs 100 against Rs 50 a pound, two months ago. Potatoes are selling at Rs 12 or Rs 15 a pound, and onions are sold at Rs 15 or Rs 25 a pound. The 'margozes' selling at Rs 40 against Rs 30 a pound. This increase is explained by the insufficient supply to meet increasing demand, it says resellers.