Vegetable prices soar in Nashik city’s retail markets

Nashik: A drop in supply has caused a 30% jump in vegetable prices in the retail markets of Nashik city in just the past few days.Vegetable vendors said the supply of fresh produce has declined due to rainfall over the past four days. Moreover, the demand for vegetables has also increased ahead of the Navaratra festival."Supply of vegetables has declined but the demand is high. This is the reason the vegetable prices have increased in the last few days," said Sanjay Mali, a vegetable vendor.Prices of vegetables like okra, brinjal, tomatoes, potatoes and fenugreek leaves have increased by around 30% in various retail markets across the city.Even the Nashik Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) — the largest vegetable market in the district — has witnessed a drop in the supply of vegetables."There has been continuous rainfall in the district for four days. As a result, farmers are unable to bring vegetables to the wholesale markets for sale. The supply of vegetables has declined by 25% in the last four days at the Nashik APMC," said the APMC officials.A bunch of fenugreek leaves, which was being sold in the retail market for Rs 40 around 10 days ago, now costs Rs 70 due to a drop in the supply of the green leafy vegetable.Tomato prices have also increased from Rs 50 a kg around a week back to Rs 80 a kg now.Onions are also being sold at Rs 80 a kg in Nashik's retail markets — up from Rs 60 a kg around 10 days agback.The price of brinjal also increased from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 80 per kg during the last 10 days.