Drumsticks, onions cost up; out of plates

Traders say that heavy rains in Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru have led to the price hike and they predict that the cost of all the vegetables is expected to come down in January 2018.

According to them, Bellary onion, which was selling at Rs 30 to 40 last week, had increased steeply to touch Rs 60 to 70 at the Koyambedu market.

Similarly, price of drumsticks has increased to Rs 170 to 190 from Rs 110 for a bundle.

The cost of vegetables like cabbage, green peas, carrot, tomato, small onion, broad beans and beans has considerably come down. However,n the retail and small vendors in local markets are selling the same vegetables for higher prices.

“Bellary onions and drumsticks cannot be stocked for long days and we have to sell them as soon as possible.

Since the demand is high, we have no other option, but to increase the prices,” said a trader in Koyambedu market.

VR Soundararajan, president of Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association and a member of Koyambedu Marketing Management Committee, said, “The cultivation of Bellary onions in Karnataka has completely suffered, as the state has been experiencing extremely heavy rainfall.

So, we cannot balance demand and supply of such onion. As far as price of drumsticks is concerned, such vegetable is imported from areas like Oddanchatram, Theni and Aravakkurichi in the state.”

He also attributed the increasing price of drumstick to rains, heavy winds and low cultivation. “Things will change only in January 2018, as there will be heavy inflow of vegetables from the districts and other states,” he pointed out.