The winter season breathes life into menus with an array of fresh vegetables. Nevertheless, indulging in winter delights such as undhiyu may prove to be a more expensive endeavor compared to the previous year, when prices were relatively lower. This year, vegetable prices have not yet shown any signs of a decrease.
Last year, tomatoes were priced between INR 4 and INR 10 per kilo in the wholesale market. However, this year, the cost has surged to a range of INR 8 to INR 25. Wholesale prices for nearly all vegetables have experienced an increase ranging from 20% to 150%. As a result, retail prices have also remained elevated, almost doubling the wholesale prices.
Last year, a kilo of ginger, which was available for approximately INR 47 to INR 52 in the wholesale market, is now being retailed at INR 100, and on delivery apps, the price has surged to INR 200.
According to a wholesaler in Jamalpur, ginger farmers in Maharashtra and South India have organized unions to collaboratively set and regulate prices.
Furthermore, the supply of numerous vegetables has been impacted this year due to untimely rains. Sanjay Patel, the secretary of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), attributes this factor, along with heightened demand during the wedding season, as contributing to the sustained high prices.
Patel further stated that the wedding season ends mid-December, following which prices of vegetables may start declining, but will end up stabilizing only by month-end.