Inadequate commercial LPG brings down vegetables prices; farmers left in lurch

Mysore/Mysuru: As the war between US, Israel and Iran escalates, the farmers here are severely feeling the pinch, with the fall in vegetable prices, especially those of daily consumables. The disruption in LPG cylinders supply chain, due to the prevailing crisis triggered by war, has forced many hoteliers to shut shop, thus spiking the demand for veggies.

The vegetable growers who were already hit hard by the swinging tomato prices, are pushed to the streets, with tomato being sold in the range of Rs. 10 against previous Rs. 20 per kg in retail market. While a box of tomato with 22-kg capacity is being sold at Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 in wholesale market.

The per kg rates of other vegetables are as follows; carrot- Rs. 20 (previous price- Rs. 35 to Rs. 40), drumstick- Rs. 20  (Rs. 100 to Rs. 150), cauliflower- Rs. 20 (Rs. 30) and potato-Rs. 16 (Rs. 25).

Farmer Jalendra said, for now, tomato is not in demand, hence the fall in prices. The hoteliers, whoever has resumed the business, have been quoting lesser rates. Adding to the worries, even Kerala traders, who were buying in bulk here, have also stayed away, leaving the farmers in lurch. Amidst all this, the only beneficiaries are the middlemen, who buy for a song and sell for a                                                          profit to retailers.

APMC merchant Ibrahim Abbu, who has a vegetable stall at Devaraja Market, attributed the slump in vegetable business to the lacklustre business in hotels, due to inadequate supply of LPG commercial cylinders. The inter-state merchants including those from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have also turned                     their back.

It is not the case with all vegetables, as the per kg rate of chilly still stands at Rs. 50 from the past one year. So also the onion, which is being sold at Rs. 20 per kg. The rate of beetroot has increased t Rs. 30 per against the previous Rs. 20 per kg.