Rainy weather affects vegetable supply

Prices of cauliflower rise by 71 per cent; garlic by 22 per cent

LAHORE: Limited supply of vegetablesis cited as the reason for a rise in the prices of several vegetables at Sunday Bazaars in the city following heavy rains across the province.

Vendors said most of their shipmentshad not arrived due to heavy rains. “There is shortage of some commodities at Sunday Bazaars and open markets.However, it is temporary. As soon as fresh suppliesarrive, prices will come down,” Muhammad Akram, a greengrocer,said.

Ghulam Hussain,a shopper, said despite the decrease in petroleum prices, no relief hadbeen passed on to consumers in terms of vegetable or fruit prices. “It seems there is no price control system available in the city when it comes to vegetables and fruit. Public representatives and the state machinery should take steps to control prices,” he said.

According to the official price list issued by the Lahore Market Committee,price ofturnipshad doubled during thelast week.It sold for Rs10 to 12 per kgat the weekly bazaars. Cauliflower prices showed an increase of 71 percent.It soldfor Rs10 to Rs12 per kg. Prices of Chinese and local garlic varieties rose by 22 and 20 percent respectively. Chinese garlic was selling for Rs275 to 286 and local variety for Rs115 to 120 per kg.

Lady finger prices registered an increase of 15 percent and sold for Rs100 to Rs115 per kg. Green peaswere sold for Rs25to Rs38 per kg. Prices of a Chinese variety of ginger roseby three percent and settled at Rs80 to 90 per kg. Bitter gourd wassold for Rs85 to Rs93 per kg.

Radish, carrot, spinach, tomato, methi and potato prices decreased compared to last week. The price of Radish fell by 50 percent and sold for Rs4 to Rs6 per kg. Carrotswere sold for Rs8 to Rs10 per kg.A Chinese variety was available at Rs13 to Rs15 per kg.

Tomato prices dropped by 29 percent.Itsold for Rs15 to Rs20 per kg. Cucumber pricesdecreased by 22 per cent and sold for Rs20 to Rs25 per kg.Methisoldfor Rs16 to Rs18 per kg.Potato prices also declinedby eight percent and it wassold for Rs10 to Rs12 per kg.

Brinjal, cabbage, capsicum, Thai ginger, green chili, Chinese lemon, moongray, onion and taro roots (arvi) prices remained stable.

Brinjalwas sold for Rs30 to Rs35 per kg; cabbage for Rs10 to Rs15 per kg; capsicum for Rs50 to Rs60 per kg, Thai ginger for Rs48 to Rs52 per kg, green chili for Rs60 to Rs70 per kg, Chinese lemon for Rs45 to Rs55 per kg, mongrayfor Rs25 to Rs30 per kg; onion for Rs30 to Rs35 per kg and taro roots (arvi) for Rs40 to Rs43 per kg.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2016.