Vegetable prices soar as arrivals fall at Navi Mumbai APMC amid drought-like conditions
Lower arrivals at Vashi's APMC market and high Pitru Paksha demand have pushed retail vegetable prices past Rs 100 a kg in several cases.
Drought-like conditions have taken hold in Maharashtra, putting farmers in serious trouble. The effect is directly visible at the APMC market in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Unseasonal rain damaged vegetable and leafy crops in the fields, and the impact is clearly showing in Mumbai's large vegetable markets.
Vegetable supplies could not be maintained, and ordinary consumers are bearing the brunt. The APMC market earlier received 600 to 700 vehicles a day. With drought-like conditions in Maharashtra, arrivals have dropped and vegetable prices have risen.
Pitru Paksha is under way, which raises demand for vegetables. Household budgets are being squeezed, with prices soaring. With arrivals down 25 to 30 per cent, leafy vegetables have become costlier in the retail market. Coriander, cluster beans, fenugreek, okra and tomatoes have crossed 100. Leafy vegetables are now costlier in both the wholesale and retail markets.
With the festival season and rising inflation, costlier vegetables have upset the budgets of housewives. With low arrivals and high demand, vegetable prices in the retail market have gone past Rs 100 a kg. The effect on ordinary people is plain to see.
Retail prices are as follows: brinjal Rs 80 a kg, ridge gourd Rs 100, bitter gourd Rs 100, cabbage Rs 60, cauliflower Rs 100, carrot Rs 80, cucumber Rs 70, peas Rs 200, tomato Rs 50 and onion Rs 70. A lemon costs Rs 12. Coriander, fenugreek and spinach are each selling at Rs 50 a bunch.
