Prices of tomato, onion and other key seasonal vegetables have declined across wholesale and retail markets in Ranchi due to higher supply, compression of demand and market disruption amid Covid-19 crisis.
Prices of vegetables, especially seasonal and perishable have come down in the past few weeks due to higher supply but less demand. At Naga Baba Khatal, City’s biggest vegetable market, the prices of vegetables have come down.
Currently, at Naga Baba vegetable market, cauliflower is priced at Rs 20 to 25, cabbage Rs 10, radish Rs 10, carrots Rs 10, spinach Rs 15, parwal Rs 30, lady finger Rs 20, karela (bitter gourd) Rs 25, pumpkin, cucumber Rs 10, beans Rs 30 to Rs 35, tomatoes are sold for Rs 7 to 10, jackfruit Rs 10 to 15, onion Rs 15-20 and cucumber Rs 10 per kg.
Mahavir Mahto, a vegetable seller at Naga Baba Khatal area said, “If the lockdown continues for another week, the prices of vegetables will further come down. The price is low mainly due to less demand in the local market.”
He said, “As corona virus is spreading at a fast rate people are afraid of coming out to purchase vegetables as the vegetable market is the place which witnesses large crowds and there are chances of spread of infection.” Echoing the views of Mahto, another vegetable seller Vijay Sahu said, “The other reason for drop in demand is most hotels and restaurants which used to buy vegetables in bulk have stopped purchasing vegetables. The postponement of marriage season too has affected vegetables buyers.”
Sources said that in April/May the prices of vegetables, especially seasonal vegetables are high due to marriage season. Caterers prefer to make different vegetable dishes through seasonal vegetables which lead to high demand, but this year as most of the marriages are cancelled or postponed there is not much demand for vegetables by caterers.
Due to reduced demand in the local market, their prices have come down drastically. Within the last four days, the price of every vegetable has dropped by 5 to 10 rupees per kg. Wholesale vegetable businessman Jitendra Kumar said that most of the hotels in the city are closed due to the lockdown. At the same time, vegetable producing areas like Itki, Boreya, Pithoria and Brambe are growing vegetables in bulk. Due to the spread of coronavirus in deadly shape, even middle men are afraid of transporting vegetables from Ranchi to neighbouring states.
The drop in vegetable prices is advantageous for general consumers, but the farmers are most affected. Last year, due to the pandemic-induced lockdown, many vegetable farmers had resorted to crushing their vegetable produce in the farms. Sources said that if the farmers fail to get adequate price of their produce they will be left with no other alternative but to leave their produce on fields.
