Cyclone Damage Pushes Up Vegetable Prices in Nalgonda

Nalgonda: Vegetable prices have witnessed a sharp rise in Nalgonda markets following the damage caused to horticultural crops by Cyclone Montha.

Prices of all major vegetables, except tomatoes, have crossed ₹50 per kg, burning a hole in consumers’ pockets. The impact of the cyclone on vegetable supplies is expected to continue for another two days until fresh produce from the current harvest reaches the markets.

The price of cucumbers increased to £80 per kilo, and the price of red peppers increased from £80 to £120. The price of cluster beans increased from ₹60 to ₹120, the price of common beans increased from ₹60 to ₹150 and the price of lady finger increased from ₹60 to ₹80 per kg. Carrots are being sold at Rythu Bazaar at a price of ₹100 per kg, compared to ₹60 earlier, and gourd prices have also reached ₹80 per kg.

Vegetable cultivation in Nalgonda is concentrated in mandals such as Kanagal, Madgulapally, Anumula, Peddavoora, Gurrampode, Nakrekal, Kattangur and Thipparthy. Farmers in these areas grow cucumber, lady’s finger, bunch beans, bitter gourd and ivy gourd, supplying both local markets and Hyderabad. However, due to hurricane damage, supply from these pegs dropped significantly, creating a large gap between demand and availability, resulting in sharp price increases.

The total daily vegetable requirement of the population of Nalgonda district is around 526 to 600 metric tonnes, but markets are currently procuring only about 60 percent of the required quantity.

Vegetable trader K. Praveen said the price hike has affected his profits as sales have fallen. “Usually vegetable prices are much lower in November, but now they have increased by 60 to 100 percent,” he said.

K. Sandhya, a local resident, said fresh leafy vegetables were not available in Nalgonda’s Rythu Market after the cyclone. “Even the available green leafy vegetables suffered but prices increased by around 50 per cent,” he added.