Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Vegetable prices soar again in Delhi; bad crop, exports to Pakistan blamed

Vegetable prices soar again in Delhi; bad crop, exports to Pakistan blamed

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jan 6, 2015   modified Modified on Jan 6, 2015
-The Times of India

NEW DELHI/AMRITSAR: Vegetable prices have begun to hurt again, ahead of elections in the capital. The reasons attributed for the spike in prices this time are reduced supplies due to unseasonal rainfall and exports to Pakistan.

Retailers in the capital say vegetable prices started rising around 10 days ago. On Monday, tomatoes were selling for Rs 40-50 per kg, around 10-20% higher than just two weeks ago.

"Production this year has been quite low, largely due to ill-timed rains in December and the extreme cold weather. While around 300-400 trucks of tomatoes leave the market at Nasik around this time of the year, only 40-50 are actually moving out," said Anil Malhotra, member of the Delhi agricultural marketing board.

According to a report from Amritsar, frosty weather has damaged crops in Pakistan as well, resulting in higher demand for Indian tomatoes and peas. As traders divert their stocks to the Attari border, prices of these kitchen essentials have spiralled in India.

Tomatoes, available a week ago in Amritsar wholesale markets for between Rs 18-20 a kg, are now being sold for Rs 20-25. Similarly, peas earlier selling at Rs 14-19 a kg are now going for as much as Rs 23.

"With their (Pakistan's) crop damaged, it was natural for them to import tomatoes and peas from India," said a vegetable exporter Gaurav Behal in Amritsar, adding that tomatoes export were likely to continue till February-end.

However, these do not fully explain the rise in prices of most veggies in Delhi. Apart from tomatoes, peas and a few other items, the wholesale prices of most vegetables haven't changed much. The finger of suspicion, therefore, also points at retailers possibly hiking prices on their own.

Peas and ginger are also being sent to Pakistan, which possibly explains a rise in prices. Mahinder Sanpal, a trader in Azadpur, said 50-70 trucks carrying peas and 15-20 trucks with ginger are being exported to Pakistan each day. "Exports are normal for this time of the year. Why it is pinching right now is because of reduced supply within the country," he said.

For tomatoes, too, the supply crunch is real. "There has barely been any production in Jaipur due to the cold. Only six-seven trucks are coming from Bangalore while Indore, which usually sends 20-25 trucks during this time of the year, is sending only one or two. At Ratlam, about 80% of the stock is over and only eight-ten trucks are coming to Delhi," said Anil Malhotra.

Depending on the quality of the vegetables, there is a difference of Rs 5-10 in prices across Delhi.

Seasonal vegetables like beans are available for Rs 40-60 in the retail market against their maximum price of Rs 30-35 in the wholesale market. Lady's finger is available for Rs 80-100 per kg against %their wholesale price of Rs 40-44. Onions are priced at %Rs 20-40 per kg.

The wholesale price of tomatoes, unlike most other vegetables, has been rising steadily since last month. From Rs 14 per kg to on December 5, it went up to Rs 22 per kg on January 2. In the retail market it was Rs 40 on Monday.

"There has been a steady rise in prices of all vegetables since the past week or 10 days. Supply has reduced due to the weather. Tomato has seen the sharpest increase in the past week," said Kapil, a vegetable vendor in Sarojini Nagar.

A customs official at Amritsar, not wishing to be named, said a total of 113 truckloads of tomatoes were exported to Pakistan on Monday. "On an average, 80 to 100 truckloads of tomatoes are being exported to Pakistan for the past 10 days," he said. A truckload contains 15 to 20 tonnes of tomatoes.


The Times of India, 6 January, 2015, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Vegetable-prices-soar-again-in-Delhi-bad-crop-exports-to-Pakistan-blamed/articleshow/45770549.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close