PANJIM: Prices of several vegetables have doubled over the last few days following change in weather phenomena across Goa and neighbouring States too.
Several market vendors and traders said that the trucks transporting vegetables from other States to Goa have also increased their transport charges. Apparently, that too had an impact on the prices. The most significant rise was witnessed for tomatoes and beans. While the tomatoes which used to cost Rs 40 per kg a fortnight ago, the vegetable produce is sold between Rs 90 and 100 per kg.
Similarly, price of beans has skyrocketed past Rs 100 per kg in the market, from Rs 50, a few days ago.
“It has been continuously raining without any signs of abatement. Besides, vegetable crops getting ruined, even the harvested crop transported to Goa is getting damp due to moisture,” Jaffar, a vegetable vendor at Panjim market, said.
It is learnt that the vegetable prices have shoot up because the fields in the States namely Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, from where vegetables are sourced by the vendors in Goa, are flooded by unseasonal rain.
With the rainfall halting and skies clearing, farmers have been able to allow their salvaged tomato crop to recover from dampness. The weather conditions have also proved to be favourable for transporting the tomatoes,” vegetable vendor Abdul Shaikh said.
If dry weather conditions continue to prevail for a fortnight, tomato prices may further fall to Rs 20-25 per kg. However, with the onset of monsoon expected in a few days, it is likely that the prices may rise to Rs 120 again,” the vendor said.
“Crop damage and subsequent shortage may further push the prices to Rs 150 per kg in retail,” another vendor said.
The price of lemons has also increased to Rs 10 per piece depending on the size. However, coriander is sold at Rs 40 per bunch.
