Severe heat waves in May and June have impacted the production of vegetables in most parts of the country. Prices of common summer vegetables like ridged gourd, pointed gourd, okra and leafy vegetables are up 20-25% from this time last year and 10-15% from last month.
The price of coriander leaves has doubled in June over May at Rs 400 per kg. Potatoes, a common vegetable in Indian households, have become costlier by 15% over last month despite good production, as the common man is forced to consume more of the tuber because prices of other vegetables have gone up even further.
Tomato prices too have skyrocketed. Prices of a kilogram of tomato, which were Rs 50-60 last month, have touched Rs 100, forcing consumers to reduce their consumption of tomatoes.
Shriram Gadhave, president of the Vegetable Growers Association of India, said: “Prices will continue to remain firm till the middle of August until the new crops, which are now being sown, come in the market. Consumers will then get some relief. However, it all depends on the rains in July. If the rain is inadequate, then the price pressure will continue further.”
Rajinder Sharma, a trader in Delhi’s Azadpur mandi, or wholesale market, said: “Since the heat wave has impacted the summer vegetables, dependence on potatoes is increasing from the Indian households. Production of the tuber was good this year and the cold storages in the two main producing states, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, were filled with potatoes.”Sharma expects potato prices to remain firm this year.
