Rain impacts vegetable sales at Koyambedu market

CHENNAI: The usual hustle was missing at the Koyambedu wholesale market due to the heavy downpour from last week. Traders worried that sales decreased by 40 per cent, which led to a slash in prices.

"At least 450 vehicles of vegetables arrived at the market, the peak hours for business between 2 am and 6 am. The sales have been hit by continuous rain, and the street vendors don't sell vegetables during rainy days. It led to a drastic fall in the sales from last week," said P Sukumaran, Secretary, Koyambedu Wholesale Market Merchants.

He added that to avoid waste, we sell the vegetables at the lowest prices. However, if there is shortage in supply, rates are expected to surge in the coming days.

Vegetable prices decreased except for tomato, drumstick and carrots, which are sold for Rs 50 - Rs 60 per kg each. Recently, the rain impacted the supply of onions and saw an increase to Rs 30 per kg.

Other veggies witnessed a dip, beans, broad beans sold for Rs 40 per kg each, brinjal Rs 20 per kg, watery vegetables such as chow chow, cucumber and pumpkin for Rs 10 per kg.

Unlike the wholesale market, the retail vendors in the city experienced brisk sales and even the prices increased by 10 per cent compared to the current wholesale rates.

K Sekar, a vendor at Wimco market said, "The prices at Koyambedu further decreased due to the rain, and we were able to purchase in a larger quantity than usual. And even the customers prefer to buy vegetables."