Repeated increases in fuel prices in the last 12 days have had a wide-ranging impact on the average person. It has not only increased the cost of their daily commute, but it has also increased the cost of their food.
Vegetable prices have risen in many parts of the country as a result of an increase in transportation costs caused by a rise in fuel prices, putting both customers and sellers in a bind. Lemon and chilli prices have seen one of the steepest increases among vegetables.
Price Rise across States
In Gujarat, a single lemon costs between Rs 18 and Rs 25. In the wholesale market, it sells for around Rs 300 per kg. Retail prices in Jodhpur and Vastrapur have risen to Rs 400 per kg.
Lemon prices in Delhi range between Rs 300 and Rs 350 per kg, which means that even one-piece costs more than Rs 10. In the sweltering heat, the staple 'nimbu-pani' has become a luxury drink for the common people.
A vegetable seller in Hyderabad informed that he used to buy a whole stake of lemon for Rs 700, but now it costs him Rs 3,500.
Similarly, chillies are sold at stepper rates in cities across the country. Two days ago, the price of green chilli in Bengaluru skyrocketed to Rs 120 per kg. In Delhi, a kilogramme of green chillies costs more than a litre of gasoline.
Tomatoes are now sold for Rs 40 per kg in Delhi, where they were previously sold for between Rs 25 and Rs 30. Bottle gourd costs Rs 40 per kg. Even the cost of potatoes has risen. It is now available at a cost of Rs 25 per kg. It was previously sold for Rs 10 per kg. Watermelons, a popular summer fruit, are now priced at Rs 30 as opposed to Rs 20 or Rs 25 previously.
Similarly, onion prices in Delhi have risen to around Rs 40 per kg, up from Rs 30-35 per kg previously. In Uttarakhand, almost all vegetable prices have risen, with lemons fetching Rs 200-250 per kg and bitter gourd fetching Rs 30-35 per kg in the mandi. Radish, pumpkin, and gourd prices increased in Bihar last week as well.
What Caused Price Increase?
Vegetable sellers have been experiencing shrinking profits and reduced sales as a result of increased transportation costs, which has resulted in an increase in buying prices. The increase in petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas prices since March 22 has had a knock-on effect on the cost of transporting vegetables for vendors.
Lemon prices are also rising as a result of the unfavourable weather in Gujarat. Plants in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have been destroyed by cyclones. In addition, the demand for lemons has been increasing as the country celebrates two important festivals in the midst of the summer heat.
Green chillies have been in short supply in South India for the past month and a half, discouraging farmers from growing more.
Onions and tomatoes are shipped to Delhi from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. However, high transportation costs have resulted in a price increase of around Rs 10-15 per kg.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices for a basket of commodities, averaged 159.3 points in March, up 12.6% from February. Food commodities such as grains and vegetable oils have seen price increases as a result of the war, which has resulted in a "massive supply disruption."
