Tuesday, 22 OCTOBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The increased prices of vegetables with the advent of the festive season have had a direct impact on the budget of the general public in the Dehradun district. Many fast food vendors and vegetable sellers in the city have expressed concern over the rising prices of vegetables, which have resulted in customers purchasing smaller quantities. The vegetable vendors have attributed the price hike to a supply and demand imbalance in the festive season.
Vegetable vendor Amir Ali said that there has been a 15 to 20 per cent increase in vegetable prices since the start of the festive season. He added that customers now enquire about vegetable prices per kilogramme but ultimately opt to buy smaller quantities due to the high prices. Ali emphasised that the rise in vegetable prices has led common people to reduce the quantity of vegetables they purchase for household use.
Another vegetable vendor Sahil Kumar said that demand for vegetables rises considerably during the festive and wedding season, particularly from caterers and other food vendors. “Unfortunately, this surge in demand has led to challenges for both the general public and small-scale vendors like myself. The increased demand has increased the prices of vegetables. Considering this, customers are purchasing smaller quantities of vegetables, while fast food sellers stocking items such as capsicum and cabbage are also reducing their purchases,” he added.
A fast food stall owner Sanjay told this correspondent that vegetables like capsicum, tomato and cabbage are essential ingredients in their dishes. However, the recent rise in capsicum prices to Rs 100 per kilogramme has made it unfeasible for them to use the usual quantity of the vegetable in their items. As a result, they have adjusted by using only half a capsicum at a time, whereas they used a whole capsicum earlier.
The rise in the rates of vegetables began prior to the festive season. Currently, garlic is being sold in the retail market for Rs 300 per kilogramme, ginger and tomato for Rs 100 per kilogramme, capsicum for Rs 100 per kilogramme and okra for Rs 120 per kilogramme.
