Kochi: Prices of vegetables continued to remain very high in the local markets. Tomato, which has been the most priced vegetable for the past two weeks, is priced at Rs 100-110 per kilogram in several neighbourhood shops while larger markets sell the vegetable at a cost of around Rs 90-95. The price of drumsticks remained the same as last week (Rs 130).
“The number of vegetable trucks coming into the markets is just a quarter of what used to come before. Since it is still raining in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, many of our regular sellers haven’t been able to come,” said Ernakulam market stall owners’ association president C J George, president.
He said that some of the local farmers groups have been bringing their produce to the markets, but these are mostly native vegetables.
Meanwhile, Horticorp said that there have begun steps for market intervention to reduce the prices of vegetables based on the decision taken at a high-level meeting convened by agriculture minister P Prasad.
Around 41 tonnes of vegetables have been procured from markets like Tirunelveli and Mysuru for infusion into the state’s vegetable markets. “On the basis of the instructions given by the minister, we have begun procurement of vegetables and are supplying in the markets at 10-20% reduced prices compared to the current market prices,” he said. For example, one kilogram of tomato, which is priced at Rs 100 in the market, is being sold at Rs 80 through Horticorp and vegetables and fruits promotion council of Kerala (VFPCK),” said Horticorp managing director J Sajeev.
He said the agriculture department plans to procure vegetables being grown by the farmers in the state and VFPCK has been given the charge of procurement.
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEMail
