Huge arrivals of vegetables hold up prices at Koyambedu

Chennai:

The Pongal may not be that sweet for vegetable wholesale traders this time but then the consumers will have their platter full with vegetables selling at affordable rates and lot of varieties to pick from Koyambedu market as the supply is too high.

With the prices of select vegetables rising by few ruppees, the usually busy market lacked the usual cacophony as the consumers at the retail market were scarce with few bargaining for the vegetables. “This is mostly due to the Pongal holidays. Today is Friday and most of the people will be planning their trips to native place as such the demand for vegetables is less during Pongal. It is only the locals who will be buying the vegetables,” said S Rammohan of NRC Agro, a wholesale shop in Koyambedu market.

Interestingly, barring the prices of sugarcane and ginger plants, the prices of vegetables were affordable with many selling in the range of Rs 10 to Rs 25 except brinjal and carrot which has risen to Rs 30 a kg. Rammohan said country vegetables like brinjal, bitter gourd are in demand and are being sold above Rs 15 a kg while English vegetables are being sold at the same price.

Sugarcane which was trading at Rs 400 for a bundle of 10 last year is now being sold at Rs 500 per bundle and there may be a further spike in prices depending upon the supply, said Balasubramanian, a sugarcane and ginger plants trader. He also said the ginger price is now Rs 3,000 per 60 kg.

Rammohan said the rise in prices of sugarcane is due to the non-

availability of the commodity after Cyclone Thane affected the crops in Cuddalore and Villupuram.

Interestingly, the prices of onions which were skyrocketing last year and were selling at Rs 50 per kg is now available Rs 2 to Rs 8 per kg as per the wholesale price.

Natrajan, who is onion, ginger and potato trader said onion, potato and other vegetable prices are affordable as there is arrival of excess of vegetables in the market. “Right now traders won’t be able to sell the stocks which they purchased as there is plenty of stocks available in the market,” he says.

But will this hit the profits. “Yes,” say the traders, the profits may be marginal but then there won’t be any loss.

Price List:

Brinjal: 30/ Kg

Onion: Rs 8/10

Potato: Rs 12/15

Sambar Onion: Rs 20

Drumstick: Rs 80

Carrot: Rs 30

Tomato: Rs 10

Ladiesfinger: Rs 20/25

Cauliflower: Rs 15

Green peas: Rs 40

Sugarcane: Rs 50 per piece

(The prices are subject to change depending on the availability of stocks)