Kerala kitchen budgets bleed as beans, cowpeas and garlic cross ₹100/kg
Thiruvananthapuram: Vegetable prices are soaring, throwing kitchen budgets completely out of gear. Everyday essentials that households heavily rely on such as beans, cowpea and shallots are commanding eye-watering prices. Both beans and cowpea have surged past ₹100 per kilo. Shallots have likewise hit ₹100, whilst garlic has climbed to a staggering ₹220 per kilo. With prices hiked repeatedly over the past month, consumers are forced to fork out hugely more just to put veg on the table.
Even though it is not a festival season, the rising cost of vegetables is severely denting ordinary family budgets. Prices have spiked dramatically over the past fortnight alone, with beans jumping by ₹30, cowpea by ₹40 and shallots by ₹40 per kilo. Although prices vary depending on the size and quality of the produce, the burden of inflation is hitting consumers equally.
A major share of the vegetables entering Kerala's markets comes from neighbouring states. Flooding and adverse weather conditions in these states have badly hit transport and supply, resulting in dwindling arrivals. This drop in availability has directly driven up prices in the open market, and with supplies running short, further price hikes are expected in the coming days.
The surging cost of staples like beans, cowpea and shallots is placing an immense burden on common people, forcing up household expenses just for routine purchases. Market analysts anticipate that potato prices could also increase soon. Traders are growing anxious that prolonged inflation will cripple sales, as higher prices will likely lead shoppers to buy in smaller quantities.
Meanwhile, traders have found some relief as prices for tomatoes, cucumbers and lady's finger have remained relatively stable. However, with all major vegetables getting dearer at once, ordinary citizens are anxiously waiting for relief at the checkout counter.
Current vegetable prices (Per Kg, in ₹) vs fortnight ago
- Beans: 120 (vs 90)
- Cowpea: 140 (vs 100)
- Shallots: 100 (vs 60)
- Garlic: 220 (vs 210)
- Green chilli: 70 (vs 45)
- Carrot: 80 (vs 60)
- Gooseberry: 100 (vs 90)
- Bitter gourd: 100 (vs 70)
- Salad cucumber: 70 (vs 40)
- Raw mango: 140 (vs 80)