Veggie, tuber prices shoot up again, Gurgaon residents worried

As a result of shortage in local supplies, prices of vegetables, tubers and fruits have skyrocketed in the last two days.

As a result of shortage in local supplies, prices of vegetables, tubers and fruits have skyrocketed in the last two days. Prices of every day ingredients such as onions and potatoes have risen by about 75% and 50%, forcing many residents to keep them out of the daily diet.

Retailers say they cannot do anything about the price as even wholesale prices are high. (HT File)

Customers in a number of city localities, including South City, DLF, Sushant Lok and Malibu Towne, paid between Rs 75 to Rs 90 for a kilogram of tomatoes on Tuesday. The cost of tomatoes had earlier risen from Rs 30 to Rs 60 around the second week of June.

Residents said that tomatoes are essential in any kitchen and the ever increasing prices have forced them to avoid using the fruit in any dish. Chirag Sahani of Sector 31 said, “No more tomatoes in salads. The fruit is too expensive that I first thought my vegetable seller was joking about the rates.”

The prices of onions, potatoes and brinjals have also increased by Rs 20 per kilogram on an average. The prices are likely to rise further in the next couple of days because of a delay in supplies and as the local production has been exhausted.

“Even the wholesale prices are extremely high. We are trying to reduce our profit window so that the people do not have to pay excessively high amounts for vegetables. The customers are complaining daily but there is not much we can do about it,” Jitender Kumar, a retail seller in Sector 40, said.

Officials of Gurgaon agricultural marketing committee said that the rise in prices is only seasonal.

“As the monsoon arrives, prices of vegetables start rising. The local supplies, which come from different parts of the state, including Mewat, Farrukhnagar and other areas, are over. We are depending on supplies from Himachal Pradesh, but because of the rain and road blockades, the trucks are not able to reach here on time,” Deen Mohammad, state agriculture officer (Haryana), said.