CHENNAI: A glut of vegetables at the Koyambedu wholesale market has led to a sharp fall in prices, with traders saying that large quantities are piling up due to poor demand.
According to traders, most vegetables are now being sold at prices ranging from Rs 10 to a maximum of Rs 30.
SS Muthukumar, president of the Koyambedu Semi-Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association, said production peaks during December and January, leading to a surge in arrivals at the market. “Usually, around 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of vegetables arrive at Koyambedu every day. Now, the arrivals have increased to between 12,000 and 15,000 tonnes, and the market is overflowing,” he said.
Despite the increased arrivals, footfall at the market has declined sharply. Traders attributed this to a growing dependence on online grocery delivery platforms. “Vegetables are sold at comparatively cheaper prices at Koyambedu, but the number of customers visiting the market has come down significantly,” Muthukumar pointed out.
Small traders have been the worst affected. Nellai Kannan, a vegetable seller, said the reduced customer flow had severely impacted retail vendors. “A few years ago, around 1 lakh customers used to visit the market every day. Now, the number has come down to about 50,000. While wholesalers are relatively unaffected, small sellers are facing heavy losses,” he said.
Consumers, however, cited convenience and transport costs as reasons for avoiding the wholesale market. Rajeswari, a resident of Chintadripet, said buying vegetables from nearby shops was easier despite higher prices. “If we buy large quantities at Koyambedu, it is difficult to carry them in buses. We have to hire autos, which adds to the cost. So, we prefer nearby stores,” she said.
Farmers, too, are bearing the brunt of the price crash, with traders noting that they are incurring losses and require support, similar to that sought by vendors struggling with the slump in demand.