Surge in vegetable cultivation leads to sharp dip in prices, traders badly hit

As a result, a considerable number of lorries has been lining up since February 1 without unloading vegetables due to excess supply from other quarters. Traders attributed the lull in business to a surge in vegetable cultivation by farmers who switched from the more water-consuming paddy cultivation of late. 

Further, there is a good inflow of vegetables from various districts and other states like Karnataka and Maharashtra. 

According to traders, prices of all vegetables have come down to Rs 20 and Rs 30. Even vegetables like drumsticks, shallots, beans and tomatoes, cost of which went up to Rs 180 three months ago, are now being sold at Rs 20, 30, 10 and 10 respectively. 

“We are selling 50 kg of brinjal for a mere Rs 100 at this juncture and this is the first time that price of vegetables like beans and cauliflower has plummeted to this extent. Further, around 40 to 50 lorries with vegetables like cabbage, carrots, bellary onions and cauliflower are waiting to be unloaded,” a trader said. 

VR Soundararajan, president, Koyambedu Wholesale Vegetables Traders Association and a member of Market Management Committee, said, “The market has more than 1,800 shops and the daily turnover would usually be between Rs 5 and Rs 7 crore. 

However, the turnover has drastically declined to Rs 1 crore in the last two weeks.” A few farmers said that since more water is needed for paddy cultivation, they switched to vegetable cultivation. 

M Varadharajan, secretary, Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, Madurai district, said, “Farmers cannot expect good rainfall every year to undertake paddy cultivation. Hence, many switched to vegetable cultivation this year, as it needs less water. This could have led to the fall in prices of vegetables.”