Bangalore: This festive season, prices of vegetable, fruits and flowers have gone up by almost 5 to 30 per cent. While retail prices of goods too have shot up by between Rs 5 and 12, wholesale prices in market have shot up between Rs 2 and Rs 10. “We spent an additional Rs 70 on fruits and vegetables on Monday. The increasing prices are unbelievable and are affecting our lifestyle. Everything is becoming costly,” Suresh Nathan, a shopper in Malleswaram said.
Explaining the reasons for increase in prices, HOPCOMS MD Shanmugappa said, “It is not a significant increase, but the festive season usually brings in a small price hike especially in fruits and flowers. Besides, this year the diesel price hike too has become one of the reasons for increase in prices of vegetables and fruits.” In HOPCOMS, vegetable prices have increased by around 10-15 per cent and prices of fruits are up by almost 20-30 per cent.
Further, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Kodihalli Chandrashekhar said these prices would remain high for the next five days. “Farmers get a profit of merely 2-5 per cent, but since vendors in the city buy stocks in bulk from farmers a few days before the festival, the prices at major markets are considerably high. It is not just the diesel price hike, but the wavering monsoon situation too has affected the farmers. The cost of cultivation has gone up drastically. Fertilisers that used to cost Rs 450 are now Rs 1,200. The prices of many vegetables have shot up by Rs 8-10 and prices of fruits are up by Rs 10-15. Prices of beans and carrot have gone up by Rs 9 and prices of banana, orange, apple and pomegranate have shot up between Rs 6 and Rs 16."
Many local markets have increased the prices of flowers by Rs 5 on an average. “We have to hike the price, as we have paid an hefty price to buy them. Also, we have to store them to retain their freshness,” said Sharadhamma, a vendor in K R Market. In Gandhi Bazaar’s flower market, prices of roses, datura, mango leaves and mogra have gone up by almost Rs 8-10. “Prices of flowers and fruits have gone up. But regardless of that we will buy only fresh ones,” said Rajesh, a shopper at the market.
Comments
0 comment