Goans can heave sigh of relief, vegetables prices drop

BELGAUM, JAN 19
Goan consumers can now look forward to better days ahead, as prices of vegetables, that had unleashed a reign of terror in the Goan household, have now started to drop.
An increase in arrival of fresh vegetables at Belgaum since the beginning of this week has brought down the rates of vegetables.
“Thanks to good climatic conditions in December, there is a considerable rise in cultivation of vegetables. The impact can be seen as more vegetables are now coming to the wholesale market,” stated Diwakar Patil, president of the Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Market Association, here.
“The prices of vegetables compared to last week have come down between 30 to 50 percent,” affirmed Patil, indicating the downward trend in the prices of vegetables.
Accordingly, the prices of vegetables per 10 kg on Wednesday were tomato (Rs 120-150), cabbage (Rs 60-70), brinjal (Rs 100-120), beans (Rs 120-160), capsicum (Rs 220-240), green peas (Rs 150-180), cauliflower (Rs 60-70), green chilly (Rs 180-200, coriander (Rs 160-180 for 100 pendhis) and methi (Rs 80-100 for 100 pendhis).
The decline in prices has been such that tomatoes were priced at Rs 250 per 10 kg last week, while green peas, beans and capsicum were also priced last week at Rs 350, Rs 250 and Rs 300 respectively per 10 kg.
“The wholesale prices of onion too are showing a downward trend,” said Ram Haval, a veteran wholesale vegetable supplier to Goa.
“The downward trend of vegetable prices is expected to continue and the above prices are expected to come down further in next couple of days.”
The prices of onion in the Belgaum market have been stable since the last week at Rs 2500 to Rs 4500 per quintal, depending upon the quality of onions.
Goa largely depends on stock from the wholesale vegetable market in Belgaum. In fact, nearly half of the onion stock which arrives at the wholesale market in Belgaum is sent to Goa.
During peak season, January to April, more than 100 tempos and trucks of vegetables arrive at the Belgaum wholesale vegetable market every day, of which more than 50 per cent is sent to Goa.
“Perhaps, the people of Goa get fresher vegetable than those in Belgaum as we give priority to send the Goan vehicles first,” added Haval.
This means that the common man in Goa could surely heave a sigh of relief on two grounds. First, the prices are getting cheaper and second, Goans get fresh vegetables like the people of Belgaum.