Vegetable prices up as summer sets in

Srikakulam: Vegetable prices shoot up in Srikakulam city for the last one week. As a result, poor and middle-class are unable to purchase them by paying more amount. For the last six months the district failed to receive rains making the cultivation of vegetables difficult for farmers due to non-availability of enough water.

As a result, the production of vegetables also declined. In the last week, a kg beans price was Rs 70 now it is rose to Rs 120 per kg. Cost of a kg carrot was Rs 40 last week, now, the price of same quantity is at Rs 60. The cost of a kg angular gourds was Rs 30 now its price crossed Rs 50 a kg.

Cost of one kg tomato also increased to Rs 30 from Rs 20 in last week. Price of a kg gherkin was Rs 20 a week ago now it is stood at Rs 40. Cost of a kg onions increased to Rs 30 from Rs 20 in last week. Price of kg potato is also increased to Rs 50 in a span of ten days from Rs 30.

Marketing and horticulture department officials failed to motivate farmers in cultivation of vegetables to overcome its scarcity. Previously a mobile van facility was inaugurated in some mandals, Ponduru, Sitampeta and other areas but not continued properly.

"We are planning to brief the importance of vegetables cultivation among farmers by explaining the government schemes. But due to lack of water facility in summer, the productivity will be reduced normally," said marketing AD B Srinivasa Rao and horticulture AD, B Prasada Rao to The Hans India.

"We are unable to purchase vegetables in the market as its prices increased more than double in a span of one-week," said Metta Swathi and Tammineni Anuradha, house wives of Ragolu and Illisupuram in Srikakulam. "In the wake of present market situation, we have to spend more than Rs 1,000 only for vegetables every month which is burdening more on us," said a private employee K Sanyasi Rao of Balaga area in Srikakulam.