Hyderabad: Lockdown impact on Vegetable prices

Hyderabad: The hike in prices of vegetables especially Tomato, Potato and Carrot in this Corona crisis period is creating tension for the people below the poverty line. It became very expensive for many people to feed their children two times a day.

The retail price of Tomato on Friday was three times increased when compared to the prices in last month. Tomatoes grew up from Rs 18 per kg to Rs 60 per kg. There is the increment of Rs 8 to Rs 15 per Kg in the prices of potato and carrot in recent times.

"Due to the lockdown, prices of vegetables increased hugely. Three weeks ago, one kg of tomatoes was bought for Rs 20 per kg from street vendors. But now, they are selling it for not less than Rs 60 per kg," said Sunitha N, a housewife from Vanasthalipuram.

The arrival of vegetables at Bowenpally market which is the largest wholesale market in the city has been slow down in the past two weeks. We are moving between Bowenpally market and Shamshabad market for vegetables from the middle of June," says Narayana Rao, a retail seller.

Regarding the hike in prices of vegetables, Agricultural Marketing Department director Lakshmi Bai said, "It is a lean season for vegetables.

Telangana state receives vegetables from other places. However, due to lockdown, the arrival of vegetables has been slowed down which led to an increase in prices."