New Delhi, May 26 (IANS): After LPG cylinder, rising prices of tomatoes and green vegetables are jeopardising the common man's kitchen budget. In the national capital, tomatoes are being sold for Rs 60-80; while in many cities its prices have reached INR 100 amid shortfall in supply.
Apart from tomatoes, green vegetables have also gone costlier in comparison to the last week. As per vendors, these prices will increase further in the coming days as they argue "vegetables often become expensive during the rainy season".
According to traders at Azadpur and Ghazipur Mandi, Asia's largest vegetable and fruit market, the arrival of tomato (in the market) has fallen down to about a third, leading to a steep rise in its prices. Tomato is selling at INR 65-80 per kg in the retail market.
Lemon is being sold in Delhi for INR 200 to INR 250 per kg. Similarly, brinjal is at INR 60 to 80 per kg, calabash (laoki) INR 50, cauliflower INR 100 to INR 120, onion and potato INR 40, capsicum INR 100 to INR 130, carrot INR 80 and spinach is being sold at INR 60 per kg.
Other vegetables are also becoming expensive amid the shortfall in supply, said a trader, adding that the farmers have not planted new crops due to fear of loss, which would further increase the prices of vegetables in coming days.