Wednesday, 03 JULY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
With the onset of the monsoon, the prices of vegetables in Dehradun are expected to rise in the coming days, the secretary of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Vijay Thapliyal said. Currently, the prices of vegetables have become a concern for consumers, with recent rise of 10 to 15 per cent attributed to the rise in temperatures during the summer. Vegetable sellers have claimed that the rise in temperatures had damaged the crops, resulting in price hikes. It is anticipated that with the onset of the monsoon season, vegetable prices will rise further by 10 to 20 per cent.
A vegetable seller Ramesh Dev said that that over the past few days, prices of vegetables have risen by an average of 10 to 12 per cent. The prices of onions and tomatoes in particular have seen a more notable increase compared to other vegetables, attributed to the recent rise in temperatures. He said that the cost of tomatoes in the market has surged from Rs 25 per kilogramme to Rs 40 per kilogramme. The prices of vegetables have started rising further due to the onset of monsoon. Dev said that there is an expectation of further rise in the prices of vegetables during the monsoon season due to factors like inadequate transportation facilities, crop damage from rain and various other factors.
Several other vegetable sellers anticipated a similar rise in prices with the onset of the monsoon season.
A consumer Veena Negi said that prices of vegetables are soaring at present with the price of ginger having risen by 40 per cent compared to past years. She expressed concerns stating that if vegetable prices continue to rise during the monsoon, it may disrupt the household budget for a few months.
Thapliyal said that typically vegetable prices fluctuate based on the seasons. The increase in temperature this year, rising by three to five degrees compared to past years, has caused damage to many vegetable crops, indirectly leading to higher market prices. It is expected that vegetable prices will further rise by an average of 10 to 20 per cent with the onset of the monsoon season. The prices of vegetables have risen over the past two days, but they are expected to increase further over the next 15 days as the monsoon season enters its peak. During the monsoon, challenges like insufficient transportation facilities due to rain and landslides in certain areas hinder the supply of vegetables. Additionally, crops, particularly tomatoes, are prone to damage during the rainy season, resulting in price hikes due to shortages, he added.
The price of potatoes has increased from Rs 25 per kilogramme to Rs 40-50 per kilogramme. Additionally, the price of onions has increased from Rs 30 per kilogramme to Rs 50 per kilogramme. The prices of many other vegetables have also risen in recent days.
