VISAKHAPATNAM: The sharp increase in the prices of vegetables is burning a hole in the pockets of the middle class in the City of Destiny. Lack of monsoon and extended summer has apparently taken a toll on veggie production, owing to which the costs have skyrocketed. The prices of brinjal, tomato, onions, red chilli and other vegetables being sold, even in rythu bazaars, have shot up in the last two months.
“It has, of late, become a routine for the common man to witness hike in the prices of essential commodities by the day. Petrol, gas, transport charges, education, even the daily bread has practically soared,” says M Prakash, a retired professor from the city. Brinjal, which was priced at Rs 10 per kg in the beginning of June, is now being sold for Rs 28. The same is the case with tomatoes, which were priced at Rs 14 per kg last month, before doubling in July. Onion brought fresh tears this month, having increased to Rs 27 from Rs 20 last month.
“It appears that we should depend more on curry points than buying vegetables and making food at home with equally expensive oil and cooking gas,” says G Sreedevi, a homemaker from MVP Colony. Since the middle class people have to plan their monthly expenditure ahead, they need to consider the cost of the food items before purchasing any, she added.
Chilli, which was priced at Rs 21 in June is Rs 44 per kg now, while the price of drum sticks doubled from Rs 24 to Rs 50. Cabbage, ladies finger and non-local items like beans, carrot and capsicum too are getting dearer by the day.
However, the market authorities are expecting a fall in the prices in the coming days. Giving a boost to local production is the only alternative to bringing down the rates, which nevertheless, is an onerous task due to the unfavourable climatic conditions this year, they added.