Soaring vegetable prices pinch consumers

Guwahati: Along with other commodities, vegetable prices too have seen a steep hike over the course of last year. Traders attribute the main reason behind the high vegetable prices due to erratic climatic condition.

For instance, brinjal, purchased from farmers at Rs 10 a kilogram from the north bank of river Brahmaputra (near Guwahati) becomes Rs 20 a kilogram when sold in the local market.

With every stop towards the city the brinjal picks up price. Almost all vegetables are sold at double the cost price.

"There are reasons for the rise on price of say sugar, potato or onion which comes from outside but what about vegetables that is produced locally. Theres has been a steady increase in the price of vegetables over the last one year," said a vendor.

Dharmeshwar is a vendor as well as a grower and he says erartic climatic condition is the reason behind fluctuating vegetable prices.

"Less rainfall last year meant that the ground is now dry and with lack of irrigation the produce is much less, so its a demand supply problem," he says.

It is not just vegetables even the local varieties of rice are atleast Rs 10 higher than last year. Jaggery which sold at thrity rupees in the middle of 2009 is now Rs 50 for a kilogram.