Prices of Vegetables, Flowers Soar in Puducherry Market

PUDUCHERRY: The prices of vegetables and flowers increased considerably after the heavy rains which lashed Puducherry and surrounding areas for the last one week.

The spiraling of prices have added to the woes of the common people, who are still reeling under the impact of the water logging, drainage issues in their respective areas. The incessant rains wreaked havoc in the region causing damages to the roads, piling of garbage heaps at the drainages. It caused damages to the banana, paddy cultivation and also rendered farmers in the rural areas suffer financially.

Normal life was disrupted in the past one week due to the heavy rainfall under the influence of the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.

The rains also slowed the arrival of vegetables, flowers to the markets. Puducherry mostly depends up on the arrivals from other states for vegetables, flowers and fruits, which are being brought here from Bengaluru, Hosur, Krishnagiri, Chennai, Madurai etc.

Market sources said the price of vegetables had gone up considerably, especially the essential items. The prices of potato rose from Rs 20 to Rs 40 a kilogram while tomatoes rose from Rs 20 to Rs 40 per kg and the prices of onions rose from Rs 30 to Rs 50.

In flowers, particularly, the price of Jasmine rose from Rs 150 a kilogram to Rs 400 while that of rose went up from Rs 80 from Rs 150. The prices of several other varieties of flowers also increased considerably.

The market sources also informed that the prices of vegetables cultivated and sold in the region also went up. The local cultivation of vegetables were submerged in the rain water, which is still clogging the agriculture fields.

According to traders, prices of vegetables are expected to go up further if rain continues in the coming days.