Veggies price hike by 40%, onion by whopping 125%, say Koyambedu sources
Posted on: 17/Nov/2017 11:54:30 AM
Chennaites might have to bear with a hole in their pockets, as there is hike in price of veggies, fruits, flowers and lean meat due to rain and rough winds. At the Koyambedu wholesale market in the city, there is about 30 to 40 percent hike in price. Notably, there is 125 percent hike in onion rate – one of the staples used!
The Bellary onions sourced from Karnataka have raised by Rs 45 per kg from the earlier Rs 20. This hike is due to rain showers that have hit crops as well as transportation from the nearby states. Sambar onions or Shallots have almost doubled in rates and rose to Rs. 110 per kg. Crops sourced from districts including Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Erode are hit due to flash floods.
There is crop damage in the adjoining states including Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh as well. This has led to dwindling supplies of the staples – tomatoes and onions, said the president of Koyambedu Vegetable Traders Associatoin, V R Soundarajan.
The drumsticks fall off the trees with just one gust of wind. So the price of drumsticks have sharply doubled from the earlier Rs 50 per kg to Rs 100 per kg. Flooding has also caused crop damage to beans, carrots and cabbages, said Soundarajan.
Due to the rough weather, fishermen also find it tough to venture out. This has hit both export as well as domestic supplies. There is short supply of tuna, lobsters and sharks, as the fishermen find it tough to venture out.
There is hardly any effect of the monsoon on harvesting fruits in Pollachi, Ooty and Kodaikanal, but had affected production of flowers such as jasmine an Kanakambaram that are raised by whopping 200 percent. Due to incessant showers and fog, flower production is hit, say traders.
This week, things have got a bit improved as the showers are mild now, and mild showers aid in growing flowers. Hence, by December and January, the second flower crop will be flush, says a trader.
