Veggies get dearer over short supply

Madurai: Vegetable prices have gone up by at least `10-20 a kilogram in Madurai due to seasonal factors affecting crops and prevailing weather conditions. Traders say beans, peas and tomatoes are among those in short supply for the past few weeks, thereby pushing up prices. While traders struggle to make profits, residents have been cautious in their spending on even essential vegetables.
N Chinnamayan, president, Central Vegetable Market Traders Association, Mattuthavani, said extreme weather conditions for months had caused wilting and poor growth of many local crops.“In the past few weeks, we have had to ‘import’ vegetables including tomatoes from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. This led to major fluctuation in prices. With weather improving, this week we have been slowly getting vegetables locally from Udumalpet, Pollachi and Theni,” he added. A 15kg crate of tomatoes costs up to `700-900 in wholesale. On Wednesday, it came down to around Rs 650.

A retail tomato trader, K Saranya, said customers are unhappy with tomato price touching `70 per kilogram. “However, since tomatoes are a commonly used vegetable, there is still decent demand. People are just buying in smaller quantities than usual. Prices are likely to go down once the supply increases in the coming days,” she added.
S Manual Jayaraj, president, Madurai Central Market Vegetable and Perishable Commodities Merchants Coordinated Association, Paravai, said vegetable supply is usually difficult at this time of the year and prices may stabilise only by November. “Butter beans, beans, and peas are in short supply and have become expensive. Prices of onions and tubers have also gone up marginally now. Supplies from hill areas like Kodaikanal are currently low,” he said.
In the retail market, vendors have increased prices of almost all vegetables by at least `10. “Customers are hesitant to buy even one full kilogram of vegetables. Considering transport and other expenses we incur, we don’t get much profit,” said S Sathya, a vendor at Thayir market on East Marret Street. She said vendors like her make a profit of around `700 a day if all their vegetables are sold but at present they are making only around `400 as profit.
Vegetables such as butter beans, soya beans and cauliflower being in very short supply, retail vendors are not keen on procuring them due to poor demand.
“Door-to-door vendors are increasing prices of veggies further by up to `30. I stopped buying beans and other such expensive vegetables briefly and looked for cheaper alternatives,” said A Rajeshwari, a resident of East Perumal Maistry Street.