Vegetable prices soar steeply in Nellore

Nellore: Steep increase in the prices of all vegetables is making people, especially women, sweat and they are now purchasing vegetables that are affordable. Almost all markets in the district are giving shocking experience to the common people.

Generally, varieties like carrot, capsicum, cabbage and cauliflower are normally imported from other states. Now locally grown varieties of vegetables are also not accessible to the people at normal rates. No vegetable variety is available below Rs.50 per kg.

People say that they have to adjust with tomatoes, green chillies and low-grade onions for daily cooking. Locally grown brinjal is sold between Rs. 70-80 per kg.

"Tomatoes and green chillies are sold between Rs. 35-40 and onions in small sizes are also at the same prices. Price lists displayed at Rythu Bazaars are shocking people. We are adjusting with dal and a small quantity of fry. The majority of people are preferring local sambar varieties where not much vegetables are required," said P S Latha from Balaji Nagar.

Ladies finger was being sold at Rs. 10-15 per kilo a fortnight ago. Now, the situation changed, and they are being sold between Rs. 40-50. Beans at Rs. 80, cauliflower between Rs. 30-35 each, carrot between Rs. 50-60, and drumstick at Rs. 15-20 each.

Finally, quality onions are between Rs. 70-80 in supermarkets and wet ones are sold between Rs. 40-50 per kg.

Nageswara Rao, a retail vegetable vendor at the main vegetable market said that they were not getting a huge quantity of vegetables fearing losses as the people have not been preferring to buy adequate quantities when compared to the previous months.

Further, farmers say the vegetable crops were damaged due to heavy rains and they have to sell at a reasonable price keeping in view the cultivation costs.