Unseasonal Rain Drives up Prices of Veggies in Delhi

Retail prices of leafy vegetables like spinach and other winter staples such as carrots, cauliflower and peas have shot up as much as 67 per cent in the National Capital over the last five days due to unseasonal
rains. Prices are expected to be under pressure for the next two days due to tight supplies as the wholesale markets will remain closed for Holi.  However, there is no supply constraint for potatoes and
onions, and their prices are stable, a senior Union Agriculture Ministry official said. "Due to waterlogging, harvesting of some vegetables has been delayed. There is 30-35 per cent jump in rates of leafy green vegetables and 20-50 per cent in other vegetables," says Azadpur Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) member Rajendra Kumar. Small Farmers' Agriculture-Business Consortium (SFAC) Managing Director Pravesh Sharma said that there is no problem in onion and potato supply. Farmers are draining out excess water from fields and logistics problems have also caused to tight supply situation in some vegetables. Mother Dairy's Safal outlets are selling potato at Rs 11.90 per kg and onion at Rs 30 per kg today. Even vegetable hawkers are selling these two commodities more or less at these rates. However, a sharp jump in retail prices have been seen in leafy vegetables and some winter vegetables. The prices in unorganised markets vary in different colonies. "The supply of spinach is not much in mandis as the crop is waterlogged due to recent unseasonal rains. The supply is expected to improve after Holi when Farmers will resume harvesting," a trader at Okhla mandi said. At Safal outlets, prices of spinach (pallak) have increased by 52 per cent to Rs 34 per kg now from Rs 16 per kg on March 1 due to supply disruption in growing states. Prices of fenugreek (methi) and chenopodium album (bathua) have increased marginally by Rs 3 per kg to Rs 32 in over last five days, while coriander rates have gone up by 30 per cent to Rs 69 per kg in the same period. Among other vegetables, carrot prices have increased sharply by 67 per cent to Rs 30 per kg, from Rs 17.90 per kg; cauliflower prices are up at Rs 19.90 per kg, from 15.90; cabbage - to Rs 17.90 per kg from 13.90 per kg in the said period at Safal outlets in Delhi and NCR. Prices of peas have also increased marginally to Rs 44 per kg, but tomato prices are ruling stable at Rs 32 per kg.