Veggie prices on downward spiral as festive season ends

The festival season is over and some respite is in sight for the common man as the prices of vegetables have come down considerably. Tomatoes, which cost Rs 80-90 per kilogram in the wholesale market, are now available for just Rs 30. In retail though, these are still sold for anywhere between Rs 50-Rs 60 per kilogram. The rates of all seasonal vegetables have come down after the festival season.

Vendors in streets keep huge margins

Vendors in streets were still keeping huge margins by selling the vegetables at much higher prices. Tomatoes were still over Rs 40-50 per kg with them. Similarly, each vegetable was sold with a margin of Rs 20-Rs 30 per kg. "Vendors keep huge margins. We expect that now for two to three months, there would be respite as far as the prices of vegetables are concerned,” said a resident.

According to dealers, the rate of potatoes is Rs 25 per kilogram in the wholesale market, Rs 35 per kilogram for cauliflower, Rs 35 per kilogram for carrot, Rs 50 per kg for capsicum, Rs 10 per kg for spinach and Rs 60 per kg for lemon. The prices of beans, broccoli and red-yellow pepper bells still remain on the higher side at Rs 150 per kilogram each.

“The rates of vegetables have dropped as per expectations. In the festival season, the rates are always high and once these festive days are over, the rates come down, giving respite to the common man,” said Lucky, a wholesale dealer of vegetables in the main sabzi mandi near Karabara Road.

Meanwhile, vegetable vendors in the streets were still keeping huge margins by selling the vegetables at much higher prices. The tomatoes were still over Rs 40-50 per kg with them. Similarly, each vegetable was sold with a margin of Rs 20-Rs 30 per kg.

Rekha Sharma, a resident of the Civil Lines, said lowering of vegetable prices was the need of the hour. “Every time I went out to get vegetables, I spent Rs 500 as every vegetable was expensive. The vendors keep huge margins. We expect that now for two to three months, there would be respite as far as the prices of vegetables are concerned,” she said.