Guwahati: Soaring vegetable prices in flood-hit Assam are straining household budgets this monsoon season. The situation is expected to persist as two waves of floods and heavy rainfall have damaged perishable stocks, leading to shortages and an abnormal hike in prices.
Factors such as rising fuel prices, toll gate taxes, and the influence of middlemen have further driven up costs. As a result, many residents, especially vegetarians, are forced to compromise on the quantity of vegetables they purchase to manage their budgets.
For instance, retail prices of onions have risen to Rs 50 per kg, while potatoes range from Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg. Carrots from Shillong are priced at Rs 150 per kg, beetroot at Rs 100 per kg, capsicum at Rs 120 per kg, ridge gourd (jika) at Rs 80 per kg, teasel gourd (bhat kerela) at Rs 80 per kg, and tomatoes between Rs 80 and Rs 100 per kg.
As of Friday, floods have damaged a total crop area of 32,924.32 hectares, affecting thousands of villages in Assam over the past month and a half, according to official sources.
The price of brinjal is now between Rs 100 and Rs 120 per kg, while bitter gourd, long beans, and pointed gourd are all priced at Rs 80 per kg or more. Prices fluctuate weekly due to rain and floods, which damage harvested and stored vegetables.
Imported vegetables are also being sold at high prices. Potatoes come from Agra and Bengal, onions from Nasik and Rajasthan, and ginger and garlic from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Prices vary weekly, leaving consumers with no option but to buy at inflated rates.
At Ganeshguri market, known for its higher prices even on normal days, potatoes and onions have escalated from Rs 32 and Rs 40 per kg, respectively, to Rs 50 and Rs 40 per kg. Green beans now cost Rs 120 per kg, up from Rs 60, and chillies range from Rs 100 to Rs 150 per kg. Tomato prices have doubled from Rs 40 to Rs 80 per kg.
The situation is similar in Uzanbazar, one of the city’s older markets. Prices remain high, forcing people to buy less due to damaged crops and stock shortages.
In June, the Chief Minister announced the formation of a task force to monitor and control vegetable prices. District commissioners were directed to investigate the reasons behind the price hikes and the discrepancy between retail and source pricing.
There have been allegations that unscrupulous traders are taking advantage of the flood situation to sell vegetables at higher prices, while local farmers suffer heavy losses due to crop damage.
“We are selling local cucumbers for Rs 70 per kg, though prices sometimes rise to Rs 80 per kg. We need to maintain our profit margins from wholesale stock,” said Purnima Ray, who owns a makeshift stall on Lokhra-Garbhanga Road.
Non-vegetarians find it somewhat easier to manage budgets by incorporating more fish and meat into their diets. “We are balancing our diet with more fish and meat, but we still need to buy vegetables like potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and ridge gourds for our meals,” said Kajal Das, a homemaker.
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