Vegetable prices in Kolhapur soar after recent unseasonal rain

Kolhapur: The

cost

of the

vegetables

has increased in most city markets as large volumes of fresh produce was damaged following last week’s unseasonal rain.

Shirol and Hatkanangle talukas in Kolhapur are known to be the vegetable bowl of the region and usually receive less rainfall when compared to other parts of the district. But last week, these areas received the highest rainfall in the district.

The e prices have already gone up by 30-50% for

green leafy

vegetables, brinjal, peas, tomato etc.

Nisar Shaikh, a vegetable seller at Shahupuri vegetable market, said, “The supply has been hit due to heavy rain last week. Vegetables coming from eastern parts of the district like Shirol, Jaysingpur and Hatkanangle were affected largely. In the Navratra period, the prices of veggies had gone and now again the prices have increased.”

A vegetable vendor from Laxmipuri market, Jameer Bagwan, said, “The rates had came down after Diwali but with crop damage in Shirol and Hatkanangle region, the prices have again gone up. Green leafy vegetables like fenugreek and spinach are selling at Rs 30 each bunch, tomatoes are Rs 80 a kilo, brinjal Rs 100-120, capsicum Rs 20, lady’s finger Rs 40, simla mirch Rs 60, cluster bean Rs 60, Potato Rs 35, green peas Rs 80-100 in the retail market.”

Citizens are feeling the pinch. Manisha Jadhav, a homemaker, who had come to the Laxmipuri vegetable market, said, “All vegetables are very costly suddenly. Brinjal has gone above Rs 100. The month of Margashirsha has started and almost everyone prefers to eat vegetarian food. The entire household budget is going to get affected due to the rise in cost of vegetables.”