Water shortage causes veggie prices to shoot up

“This is primarily due to the lack of rains — farmers are complaining of a severe water shortage,” said Koyambedu All Vegetable Markets’ Association advisor VR Soundararajan. “When there’s adequate water, an acre yields 80 sacks of beans. But now, only around 20 sacks are coming,” he said, because of which the cost of the vegetable has increased from Rs 30 to Rs 100 per kg.

Similarly, broad beans has gone up from Rs 20 to Rs 60. Tomato and beetroot are at Rs 35. Condiments such as green chillies cost Rs 20 and ginger is Rs 90 for a kg, he said. Among the vegetables that cost lesser are potato, ladies finger, coccinia, radish and drumstick, at approximately Rs 20 per kg.