Veggie demand down as people forced to spend on water over food

The price of vegetables like beans, brinjal, carrot and flat beans have come down by 10 to 30 per cent. Beans which sold at Rs 130 per kg has reduced to Rs 80 per kg. Similarly, carrots which were priced at Rs 60 a kg has come down to Rs 40 while the price of brinjal dropped by at least Rs 5 from the Rs 30 per kg a few days ago. The price of flat beans which was sold at Rs 70 per kg has fallen by at least Rs 10.

R Soundarajan, president of Koyembedu potato trader’s association said, “Owing to the water scarcity, people are very careful and smart about their expenditures. Since people are forced to buy water at high prices, they reducing the expense on vegetables like beans.”

“Moreover, with the fishing ban coming at an end, the prices of seafood have also come down. So, many have shifted from vegetables to fish. That is why the fish markets are more crowded compared to the vegetable markets. For now, only vegetarians opt for vegetables, so the demand is low,” he added.

Echoing a similar sentiment, M Ramasamy who had come to Saidapet market said that he has started buying half the quantity of vegetables he used to buy. “In our apartment, we are forced to buy water from private tankers. To cut own on the expenditures, I started buying half the quantity of vegetables than I buy usually,” he said. He also added that due to frequent power cuts, vegetables tend to get spoiled, adding it as a reason to stop buying vegetables in huge quantity.

However, the prices of vegetables like onions, tomatoes, green chillies and ginger remain the same at Rs 20, Rs 35, Rs 50 and Rs 130 respectively.