The rising prices of vegetables have disrupted the budget of housewives and it is likely that the prices will soar during summer months.
One of the main reasons for rising prices of vegetables is said to be ever increasing prices of petrol and diesel that ultimately increased the transport cost.
A vegetable vendor in Netaji Market that is open on Monday and Thursday said that the green vegetables arrive in the city from other places like Nasik, Aurangabad and other places. The local farmers residing in the villages around Nagpur grow vegetables and prefer to sell them at the markets on the outer side and go back home.
Many sellers purchase vegetables from Kalamna market while the local vendors prefer to buy at Cotton Market, a central place of the city. The rates of vegetables like lady figure, dhemas, padval, karle etc are Rs 80/- per kg in Netaji Market but the rates of vegetables increase in Gokulpeth, Laxminagar and other markets. One single lemon now costs Rs five while the prices of raw mango and chilly are Rs 120/- per kg. The rate of coriander is also Rs 80/- per kg while the prices of carrot, tomato or brinjal are comparatively somewhat less.
Dipak Gaur, a vendor selling onions and potatos in Netaji Market, said that potatoes were not cultivated in this area while the business depend on transporting it from Agra and other long distance places. The cultivation of potatoes is done only from December to February months while the traders store them for the rest of nine months and that is result that there is variation in the prices. The price of one kg onion is now Rs 2/- in this market but he suspects that the price could go up gradually, especially during summer.
According to him, the reasons for rising prices are: hike in petrol/diesel rate, commission of middlemen, gunny bag prices going up and others.
