Surat, India: The city is witnessing a surge in vegetable prices, triggered by heavy monsoon rains across Gujarat and other states. The onslaught of the monsoon season has dramatically impacted agricultural yield, causing a significant dip in the market supply of various vegetables, including tomatoes.
Currently, the Surat Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) market receives just 150 to 200 tonnes of tomatoes daily, a steep drop from the typical inflow of 300 tonnes. This mismatch between supply and demand has sent prices skyrocketing, making it challenging for ordinary citizens to afford even basic vegetables. The spike in prices of other vegetables such as cauliflower, lemon, chili, ginger, guar, chickpeas, papdi, and okra has compounded the woes of the economically vulnerable.
Farmers across the state are grappling with crop loss due to the double whammy of an initial cyclone followed by heavy rains. This weather-induced agricultural crisis has led to a consequent surge in the prices of tomatoes, guar, lemon, chili, papdi, choli, tindola, okra, coriander, green onion, and ginger.
According to Babu Shaikh, a wholesaler at APMC, the price for a 20 kg batch of cauliflower, which was Rs 200 to Rs 260 last month, has soared to Rs 500 to Rs 600. Tomatoes have seen a massive price hike from Rs 700 to Rs 750 to a staggering Rs 1800 to Rs 2000. Lemons, which were priced at Rs 400 to Rs 500, now cost between Rs 500 and Rs 600.
Chili prices have escalated from Rs 1200-1500 to Rs 1800-2000, while Guar, earlier priced at Rs 400-500, now stands at Rs 1100-1150. Choli, which was Rs 800-1000, is now selling for Rs 1000-1200.
According to traders, there is hope for price normalization once the monsoon season subsides, and regular agricultural activities resume. However, until then, residents of Surat may have to grapple with the skyrocketing prices of their daily vegetables.
