Even locally grown vegetables have become costly because either the crops are under water or there is a shortage of labourers.
The prices of tomatoes and locally grown vegetables skyrocketed around the city on Tuesday following heavy rains. The kitchen budget was ruined as a kilo of tomato, okra and beans cost ₹100 in the retail market.
Tomatoes, which were already costlier and sold for ₹70 last week, hit a new high due to fall in arrivals. Residents mentioned that many vegetables were priced in excess of ₹50 per kg in retail outlets and were out of reach of common people.
Padma Rajagopal, a resident of Anna Nagar West, said bhindi (₹150 per kg) and brinjal (₹100/kg) which cost nominally were also expensive. Carrots (₹130/kg), capsicums (₹120/kg) and onions (₹60/kg) were sold at high prices. “I only bought half of what I had planned. I bought vegetables in small quantities which were relatively cheap,” she said.
Wholesale traders of Koyambedu market said that the heavy rains have affected the supply in the city. The prices of tomatoes, coriander and capsicum were already high due to incessant rains in neighboring districts.
Locally grown vegetables like brinjal and bitter gourd have also become expensive because either the crop is under water or there is a shortage of labour, said GD Rajasekaran, president of the Koyambedu Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers Association of All Traders. Some of these vegetables are grown within a radius of about 100 km of the city. Vegetables in the Koyambedu wholesale market were also in short supply of 30-40% due to heavy rains. He said that the price of vegetables may fall only in January.
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