Jamshedpur: Dip in vegetable prices brings relief to families, vendors

JAMSHEDPUR: With the festive season ending, the prices of vegetables, which upset the monthly budget a week ago, have started a southward journey in markets across Steel City.
As per those associated with vegetable business both in wholesale and retail markets in the Steel City, the prices dip after Chhath every year.
"The demand of vegetables, along with fruits, shoots up with the beginning of Durga Puja and the supply chain remains weak due to late monsoon.This has been the trend over the past few years. Often heavy and continuous rainfall in September affects the production of vegetables. Therefore, the prices go up automatically," Durga Hansda, a local farmer from Patamda, said.
"The demand of vegetables goes up sharply across the city during the festive season. But now vegetables will be pocket-friendly for a few weeks till the beginning of wedding season in December," he added.
Anil Mandal, an office-bearer of the city wholesale market, said during this time of the year local production from Patamda and Ranchi area remains very high.
"Due to the proximity of the Jamshedpur market, vegetables sold at the local markets cost less due to low transportation cost.Vegetables, which are transported from other places, including few from southern states, also often get damaged during transportation. This indirectly increases their prices," he added.

All round the year, 50% of the total amount of vegetables consumed by city residents comes from West Bengal, 30% from areas near Ranchi and the rest 20% from Patmada, around 8km from here.
The figures clearly indicate that transportation cost also plays a vital role in the prices of vegetables, which are sold in the Steel City with a population of around 14 lakh.
Tomatoes, which cost around Rs 40 per kg in wholesale markets a week ago, were priced at Rs 20 per kg on Friday.
The prices of lemons have come down from Rs 3,000 per sack to Rs 1,600. Cabbage, a staple during this time of the year, is priced at Rs 20 per kg from its last week price of Rs 45 per kg.
Naturally, the drop in vegetable prices has brought slight relief to the middle-class households.
Bani Banerjee, a Sonari resident, said now she can now prepare all the favourite dishes of her husband and children as the prices of all popular vegetables have gone down.
Niharika Singh, a teacher, said: "Now we can buy different types of vegetables without upsetting the monthly budget. Variations to the day-to-day menu can also be done."
Street food vendors across the city also expressed joy over the decreased prices of vegetables.
Rajesh Sharma, who sells Chinese food items at Bistupur, said: "After a long time, my profit margin will rise as the cost of raw materials, which include vegetables, has dipped."