Veggies become costlier in Bhopal, beat fruits in price race

In the vegetable market, fruits like apples, oranges and pomegranate which are imported from other states are cheaper than locally acquired vegetables like capsicum, spinach, pea, brinjal, beans, carrot and potato.

It’s time to eat fruits and shun vegetables, at least for now.

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In the vegetable market, fruits like apple, orange and pomegranate which are imported from other states are cheaper than locally acquired vegetables like capsicum, spinach, pea, brinjal, beans, carrot and potato.

Banana is selling at Rs 30 a dozen while potato is for Rs 35 per kg.

When apples and chiku are being sold for Rs 60 per kg, the prices of vegetables like capsicum, coriander, beans and pea are Rs 70-80 per kg.

Similarly, orange, mausammi, sitafal, pineapple and papaya are selling Rs 20-30/kg while vegetables like beans spinach, brinjal, maithi, carrot, radish and lady finger are 40-60/kg.

Yasin Khan, a fruit vendor at Bittan Market who is in the profession for the past 40 years, said, “This is happening for the first time when fruits like apple are cheaper than some vegetables. Maybe this is the definition of good days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that essential things would get costlier.”

Vegetable vendor Vinod Gupta said, “The prices of vegetables, which are mainly acquired from farms near Bhopal are costlier due to deficient rain and delay in winter.”

However, buyers feel that vendors were charging exorbitantly for making more profits.

Shrikant Tiwari, 43, a resident of Arera Colony, said, “It’s become a trend that prices of vegetables soar during seasonal change. The government should take steps to stablise the prices of vegetables, otherwise I will have to tell my wife to learn more recipe of cooking fruits against vegetables.”

Hamidia vegetable market president Haseen Qureshi said, “The deficient rainfall is the major reason behind rise in prices of vegetables. Beans and capsicum are being purchased from other states, which is also a reason behind the skyrocketing price of green vegetables. Even, potato is being imported from UP and Rajasthan as local potato crop got damages.