Vegetable prices increased in West Champaran. photo awakening
Jagran correspondent, Narkatiaganj. Generally, the months of December and January are full of relief for both farmers and consumers in terms of green vegetables. During this period, neither much irrigation is required nor there is any special problem in production. But this year the situation seems completely opposite. The prices of vegetables are skyrocketing in the market during the growing season itself.
The vegetables which were being sold at Rs 10 to Rs 20 per kg in January last year, have reached Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kg this year. Many vegetables are being sold at prices up to Rs 100 per kg. According to vegetable vendors, the production of green vegetables has been affected due to extreme cold and lack of continuous sunlight. Vegetable seller Jitendra Sah said that many crops have been damaged due to extreme cold and frost. Due to this, the arrival of vegetables in the market is sometimes decreasing significantly, due to which the prices are suddenly increasing by one and a half times.
Consumers allege that vegetables purchased cheaply from the wholesale market are being sold at one and a half to double the price as soon as they reach the retail market. Such situation occurs due to arbitrariness by some sellers. Customers say that vegetable prices are now becoming beyond the reach of the common man. Vegetable producer Sujit Kumar Kushwaha said that this year the area under cultivation has been more, but due to frost and cold, production has been affected. Especially the pumpkin crop has been affected the most.
Apart from this, small vegetable growers are selling their produce at village intersections, due to which the arrival of vegetables in the main market has further reduced. Apart from the main market, prices of vegetables are on fire in all the areas including Dhumnagar Chowk, Pandai Chowk, Semra Chowk, Ajua Chowk, Maldahiya Chowk, Mathura Chowk and Bhasurari Chowk. Troubled by inflation, the kitchen budget of common people has completely deteriorated.
Customers said that green vegetables are being hit arbitrarily by cold.
The prices of vegetables are continuously increasing in the market. Sunny Kumar Kesari says that no vegetable is available for less than Rs 50, due to which it has become difficult to meet daily needs. Suraj Kumar Baranwal said that despite cheap vegetables coming from rural areas, local shopkeepers are buying them at low prices and selling them at expensive prices.
Vivek Kumar said that vegetables have been damaged due to cold and frost, due to which the yield and arrival in the markets have reduced. This has had a direct impact on prices. Customer Prakash Jaiswal said that he goes to buy three types of vegetables, but after hearing the price he has to reduce the number. This inflation has deeply affected the kitchens of the poor and middle class.