Prices of vegetables, fruits rise; tomatoes now selling at over Rs 100 per kg

BENGALURU: After the power tariff hike, prices of the essential commodities, including fruits and vegetables have shot up due the deficient monsoon this year.

The prices of vegetables have almost doubled in the market. Shockingly, the prices of the staple tomato have crossed the Rs 100 mark with one kg selling at Rs 110 at Hopcoms and at Rs 120 on grocery delivery online platforms. The erratic rain has damaged standing tomato crop in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Doddaballapur and other parts around Bengaluru, leading to a sharp spike in prices.

The price of string beans, which was Rs 60 kg, is now Rs 110, while carrots, which was Rs 50 per kg, has now shot up Rs 90 per kg. Likewise, the price of radish price has gone up from Rs 25 to Rs 49 per kg, drumstick from Rs 20 to Rs 100 per kg, beetroot from Rs 35 to Rs 50, green chilli from Rs 95 to Rs 115, ladies finger from Rs 30 to Rs 54, curry leaves from Rs 50 to Rs 80 per kg, garlic from Rs 145 to Rs 170, coriander from Rs 10 to Rs 45 per bundle, knool kol from Rs 35 to Rs 70 and ginger from Rs 120 to Rs 200 per kg.

The prices of fruits also have increased. Apples, which earlier cost Rs 180 per kg, are now being sold for Rs 288. Musambi now costs Rs 100 against Rs 70, while, the cost of pomagranate has jumped from Rs 180 to Rs 278 per kg . Pineapple now costs Rs 60 as opposed Rs 40 earlier, sapota Rs 107 against Rs 80 per kg and banana now costs Rs 74 against the earlier Rs 60 per kg.

Not only fruits and vegetables, the prices of pulses, cereals prices and other cooking essentials have also increased. Split yellow gram now costs Rs 160 per kg, up from Rs 120, while green gram costs Rs 105 against Rs 74, field beans Rs 180, up from Rs 140, split black gram Rs 135 per kg, Jeera per kg Rs 600 against the earlier Rs 186 per kg.

Tamarind now costs Rs 180 per kg, rajma Rs 134, red chilli Rs 425, corriander powder Rs 218, pepper Rs 529, cardamom Rs 1,850 per kg, up from Rs 1,150, Byadagi chilli Rs 850, up by Rs 500, while the cost of wheat flour and maida too have increased.

A homemaker said the prices of vegetables and other household articles have sharply increased over the last few days. “It is difficult to live a normal life. The price rise has hit the poor and the government should pay attention to this”, she felt.

“Online traders are creating artificial shortage in supply of pulses and cereals, the authorities concerned should conduct raids on godowns. If prices of essentials rise in this manner, people will come on the roads and stage protest against the government”, Arun Parameshwar, an angry citizen, said.

Apart from this, the prices of liquor too have been increased. The prices of several brands of beer like Budweiser, Carlsberg, Heineken, Kingfisher Ultra have been hiked by about Rs 20 and cost anywhere between Rs 210 and Rs 235 per bottle, while other beers like Tuborg and Kingfisher now cost Rs 170 while UB Premium and UB Strong now cost Rs 135.

Karunakar Hegde of the Bar Owners Association, said, “The government should increase price of liquor moderately. If the price rise is 10-15 per cent, it will not affect business. The sale of scotch whiskey has considerably reduced in Karnataka. The government should not impose additional financial burden in the form of excise duties”.