Vegetable prices jump 35-40% on supply crunch in Delhi-NCR

Wholesale prices of vegetables in Delhi-NCR region have risen by 35-40 per cent in the last one month with supply being affected due to rains in several parts of the country, industry body Assocham said today.
"Prices of vegetables such as ladyfingers, cabbage, beans, brinjal, bittergourd have increased by 35-40 per cent over a month as heavy rains in several parts of the country have hit the supply line to Delhi-NCR," Assocham said in a statement.
The prices in Delhi's wholesale markets have gone up by nearly 35 to 40 per cent over a month, it added.
Traders at the Azadpur Mandi, Asia's largest wholesale fruits and vegetables market, said crops are not coming out of the fields due to stagnant water in fields, leading to shortage, the association said.

The disparity between wholesale prices (WSP) and retail prices for essential vegetables like bhindi (Okra), cabbage, bitter gourd (Karela) went up beyond 35-40 per cent from June 30 to July 30, 2016, according to Assocham recent paper.
Okra, which were available for Rs 20 to Rs 25 a kg, are now being sold at Rs 35-40 per kg in the market. In some of the localities in the city, vendors quote Rs 50 a kg of Okra.

The prices of beans have increased twofold in the last few days and reached Rs 55 a kg while carrot was being sold at Rs 50.

Assocham demanded that the government should improve infrastructure facility like cold storages.
On retail front, Assocham said its analysis has observed that retailers are charging very high prices as compared to wholesale prices of the vegetables.
In such a scenario, government needs to play proactive role to control the retail price through surveillance scheme, it added.