Indore: Veggie prices drop 30% as supply doubles

INDORE: Vegetable prices have dropped by over 30 per cent after supply almost doubled in past one week from nearby villages as farmers cleared off mature crop from the fields before heavy showers to save them from the damage.
Prices of some of the vegetables like cucumber and gawarfali have dropped to almost half while most are slipped in the range of 20 to 30 per cent.
Drop in vegetable prices have cheered consumers but at the same time has squeezed margins for farmers and traders, experts said.
Abdul Rais, a green vegetable dealer at Choithram market said, “In just a week, supply of most of the vegetables has gone double and triple in some cases. This has reduced the prices sharply.”
Vegetable supply has surged from villages of Nimar, Barwani, Sanwer and Mhow among other areas.
Dealers said, anticipating heavy rains in coming days farmers are clearing off crops that have matured or likely to ready for harvest in a day or two.
Mohan Singh Goud, president, Devi Ahilyabai Holker Harisabzi Vayapari and Commission agent Association said, “Showers are helpful for standing vegetable crop but heavy rains destroys flowering and causes heavy damage. In anticipation of heavy rains to hit the region in coming days, farmers are bringing more vegetables.”
Vegetable dealers said, poor prices on the top of high transportation charges has adversely hit the margins of farmers.
Drop in production has however lifted the prices of tomato in the market that surged to Rs 40 per kg in the wholesale market as against Rs 20 per kg a fortnight ago, traders said.
Traders said, a drop in the output of tomato in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to adverse weather conditions has created a void in supplies.