High transportation cost makes vegetables dearer

Despite abundance in the market no produce is available for less than Rs100 per kg

KARACHI:

With the onset of winter and despite the abundance of vegetables in the market, prices of vegetables have gone up as no vegetable is available for less that Rs100 per kg.

Tomatoes are once again in short supply and are being sold at Rs200 to Rs240 per kg. Despite the season, carrots are being sold at Rs80 per kg and radish at Rs80 per kg whereas peas carry a price of Rs300 per kg.

Vegetable vendors say rising petrol prices have pushed the supply cost up. More vegetables are coming from Balochistan than Sindh which is leading to higher cost of vegetables.

According to the vegetable sellers, most of the customers ask for the price and leave. Only two to three out of 10 make a purchase. Most customers buy a pound of tomatoes instead of a kilo as before. Similarly, the purchase of other vegetables has been limited.

The new potatoes are being sold at Rs80 per kg in the city while the old ones are being sold at Rs50 per kg. Despite a significant reduction in the price of onion in the vegetable market, small size onions are being sold at Rs40 and large onions at Rs60-70 per kg.

Green chilies are being sold at Rs200, garlic Rs280, ginger Rs320, lemons Rs220, green onions Rs240, apple gourd Rs200, capsicum Rs180, pumpkin Rs80, cauliflower Rs100, cabbage Rs100 and okra at Rs180 per kg.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2021.