Prices of almost all vegetables in the city have increased manifold reportedly due to short supply in markets. The sky-rocketing prices of vegetables have made it difficult for the poor and low-income group people to make their both ends meet.
At a time when prices of tomatoes have already jumped to Rs 200 per kg, onion's prices ranges between Rs 50 and 60 per kg, potatoes are being sold between Rs 50 and Rs 60 per kg, cucumber at Rs 50 per kg, cabbage (Rs 55 per kg), lady fingers (Rs 65 per kg), French beans (Rs 80 per kg), cauliflower (Rs 60 per kg), garlic (Rs 210 per kg), brinjal (Rs 60), ginger (Rs 320 per kg) and lemon (Rs 160 per kg).
Retailers attributed the increase in prices of vegetables to their short supply. A visit to retail markets showed that vegetables shops which remained opened during Eid holidays took an undue advantage of short supply of vegetable, and thus charged exorbitant rates from their customers. According to retailers, tomatoes were in short supply whereas their demand during Eid had increased tremendously. They said that tomatoes and other vegetables would continue to be sold at higher prices until markets replenished with the fresh supply.