Fall in lorry loads to city market pushes up vegetable prices

Traders say prices of vegetables have already gone up and they attribute it to the severe drought in the Southern states. Prices have doubled in retail shops across the city. 

According to sources, vegetables from different parts of the state and from neighbours like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh come to the Koyambedu market in 450 lorries per day on an average. Due to the drought in most parts of South India, including Tamil Nadu, crops have wilted in many areas. So, the number of lorries coming to Koyambedu has come down to around 200, which is less than half the number during the normal days.

VR Soundararajan, advisor of Koyambedu Vegetable Market Wholesale Traders Association, said, “If the situation continues for a few more days, prices may double. However, there is no change in the rate of vegetables like potato and carrot as of now,” he said.

A Krishnan, a wholesale trader, said, “We expect the prices of some vegetables to increase by 30 to 40 per cent in the coming days,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the soaring prices of vegetables have left a bitter taste among the public. “We are at the receiving end, whenever prices are up in the market. Last week, I bought one kg of beans for Rs 50. But the same now cost around Rs 80,” said K Manimaran, a resident of Sai Nagar near Virugambakkam.