Team Herald
PANJIM: With vegetable prices skyrocketing in the markets over the past week due to poor produce in Belgaum and due to the rains, people have begun making a beeline to the Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd outlets where the same veggies are available at a cheaper rate.
According to vegetable vendors in Panjim Municipal Market, prices of vegetables have either doubled or tripled across Goa. The reason attributed for the sudden increase in price is shortage of supply due to a poor crop in Belgaum and also because of the farmers’ strike in Maharashtra which has now been stabilised.
Herald visited the Panjim market and found that prices of various vegetable had doubled over the week. Carrots which sold at Rs 80 a kg last week were now selling at Rs 120 a kg. There was a similar increase in the price of French beans, chillies, ladyfinger and coriander which has forced the people to turn to the horticulture outlets where the price is subsidised.
“Prices have gone up over the week because of the rains and also due the farmers’ strike in Maharashtra. The prices of carrots, French beans, chillies and ladyfingers along with various vegetables have gone up,” said Peersab Kabbor, a vegetable vendor at Panjim market.
Prices of vegetables at the horticulture outlets were much cheaper than the prices in the market. Carrots at the corporation outlets were being sold at Rs 48 a kg as compared to 120 a kg in the market and this was the main reason for the people to prefer the government outlet.
“Prices have gone up tremendously. I used to purchase veggies from the market but now as the prices have increased I have shifted to the government horticulture outlet which sells the same veggies at almost half the rate,” said Swapna Poojari, a resident of Mala.
However, vendors have termed the price rise as temporary but fear that if the shortage continues then prices could jump further.
