BENGALURU: Beans, brinjal and other vegetables have turned expensive in the city in the last one week.
While a kg of beans now costs up to Rs 80 in many places, compared to Rs 28 a week ago, the price of beetroot has jumped from Rs 18 to Rs 60 a kg.
Vegetable vendors in the city say this is because there has been a drastic reduction in supply from various districts because of the recent rains.
Prandaman, a vendor at Russell Market, says even if vendors shell out additional money for transportation of produce, they are not getting good quality vegetables.
M D Idris, another Russell Market vendor, says, “When we tell our customers rates have increased, they become dismayed and rail against the government. Now if the rains continue, rates of beans, double beans, garlic and onion too might increase.”
Khadire Gowda, managing director of HOPCOMS, says farmers in Kolar, Hoskote, Malur and surrounding areas are quoting higher prices as their crops were damaged in rain. At HOPCOMS outlets, a kilo of beans costs Rs 66.
S K Shakavat, a customer, says he was surprised at the sudden spike in prices, which has put added pressure on the budget of middle class households.