Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi / Mangaluru

Udupi/Mangaluru, Nov 4: Vegetable prices have surged in the markets a week ahead of the Deepavali festival, with coriander leaves, drumsticks, spiny gourd, beans, ridge gourd, snake gourd, green chillies and cowpeas witnessing considerable price increases compared to last week.

In Udupi, vegetable production has been affected by inadequate rainfall, pest attacks and other factors. As locally grown vegetables are not reaching coastal markets in the usual quantities, traders are increasingly depending on supplies from the Western Ghats region, resulting in higher prices.

The supply of coriander leaves has been particularly affected following an incident in Belagavi, where vehicles transporting coriander leaves were stopped during a road blockade organised by sugarcane growers. The leaves were thrown onto the road and destroyed, leading to a shortage and a sudden increase of around Rs 100 in the price of coriander leaves.

Among other vegetables, drumsticks have increased from Rs 80 to Rs 160 per kg, beans from Rs 80 to Rs 120 and ridge gourd from Rs 50 to Rs 80 per kg. Pumpkin prices have remained stable, while the price of sambar cucumber has declined by Rs 20 per kg.

In Mangaluru, the prices of vegetables, fruits and spices are rising as Deepavali approaches. Beans, which were priced at Rs 80 per kg last week, are now selling at Rs 120. Onion prices have also remained high, with good-quality onions selling at Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kg. Garlic is priced between Rs 200 and Rs 240 per kg at the city's Central Market, while it is even more expensive in retail markets. Ginger, which was priced at Rs 80 per kg last week, has doubled to Rs 160.

Traders said that the prices of most vegetables, including drumsticks, ridge gourd, ivy gourd, ladies' fingers and green chillies, have increased this week.

The prevailing retail prices of vegetables in Mangaluru are: tomato Rs 30 per kg, bitter gourd Rs 80, green brinjal Rs 80, Western Ghats brinjal Rs 60, cucumber Rs 70, cowpeas Rs 120, ridge gourd Rs 100, beetroot Rs 60, beans Rs 120, sambar cucumber Rs 70, cauliflower Rs 60, cabbage Rs 40, drumsticks Rs 160, ivy gourd Rs 60, spiny cucumber Rs 240, white ash gourd Rs 80, locally grown ladies' fingers Rs 160, capsicum Rs 120, green chillies Rs 80, hot chillies Rs 120, carrot Rs 80, locally grown bottle gourd Rs 80, Western Ghats bottle gourd Rs 60, sweet potato Rs 60, potatoes Rs 50 for 2 kg, ash gourd Rs 40 and cassava Rs 50 per kg.

Among leafy vegetables, a bunch of red amaranth is selling at Rs 30, fenugreek leaves at Rs 40, spinach at Rs 30 and Malabar spinach at Rs 60. Curry leaves are priced at Rs 60 per kg, while coriander leaves are selling at Rs 200 per kg.

Along with vegetables, fruit prices have also increased. Mangoes are selling at Rs 200 per kg, apples at Rs 150, dragon fruit at Rs 160, pomegranates at Rs 220, sweet lime at Rs 50, oranges at Rs 60, guavas at Rs 100, lychees at Rs 300, black grapes at Rs 100, custard apples at Rs 180, sapota at Rs 70, pineapple at Rs 70, watermelon at Rs 35, persimmons at Rs 280 and wood apples at Rs 300 per kg.

Among bananas, Mysore bananas are priced at Rs 80 per kg, kadali bananas at Rs 120, robusta bananas at Rs 60, small Yelakki bananas at Rs 80, large Yelakki bananas at Rs 100 and cardamom bananas at Rs 130.

Traders said that demand for vegetables has increased in the markets due to festivals and religious programmes. Mangaluru receives a major portion of its vegetable supplies from Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Bengaluru. However, rainfall in these regions has been below normal, resulting in a decline in crop yields and a consequent rise in prices.