MAPUSA: There has been a significant increase in the prices of several vegetables in markets across Goa, with vendors attributing the surge to a regional shortage due to various reasons like rotting of vegetables on account of incessant rainfall and lack of local cultivators supplying produce, among others.
The prices of tomatoes and onions in particular have gone up multiple-fold in Mapusa, Porvorim and Panaji.
A vendor at the Ponda market said tomatoes, now priced at Rs 80 per kg, are imported from Maharashtra and are currently in short supply.
“The prices of onions and potatoes go up to Rs 50 per kg,” the vendor said.
In Panaji too, tomatoes and carrots have seen the steepest rise, jumping from Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg. Other staples like onions, potatoes, and cabbage have increased from Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg. Garlic prices have surged by Rs 100, now costing Rs 400 per kg, while chillies have risen from Rs 30 to Rs 40.
Maula Dasai, a vegetable vendor at Panaji market, said, “We are dependent on Karnataka and Maharashtra for produce. Due to water crisis there, there’s a shortage of fruits and vegetables. And because of that, everything is expensive.”
In many areas at Porvorim, tomatoes are being sold for up to Rs 80 a kg and onions for Rs 50-55 a kg, like Panaji. In Mapusa, the rates are 5-10% lower than those in Panaji. Ladies’ fingers are being sold at Rs 80, green chillies at Rs 120, brinjal at Rs 90, French beans at Rs 200, ginger at Rs 240, garlic at Rs 280 per kg, while a bunch of fresh fenugreek leaves is sold for Rs 30.
Sadique Shaikh, a vegetable vendor in Mapusa, said with the low availability of fish due to the fishing ban, vegetables have turned costlier.
Wholeseller and retailer in the Panaji market, Alauddin Shaikh, said quality products are being transported to Mumbai and elsewhere that offer high profit margins. Besides, rain is another factor that hits the vegetable market, he said.
Independent vendor, Ramray Gaude from Ponda, said, “Local vegetables are doubling in price, with ridge gourds costing up to Rs 2,500 for 100 pieces.”
The rains have adversely affected both the availability and affordability of these vegetables, impacting consumer behaviour and business for vendors alike. “People are buying much less than before, which is affecting our business,” Ramray added.
Prabhakar Gaude, a local cultivator from Ponda, said lack of local cultivators is also driving prices up in Goa.
“Local cultivators sell their produce, often at lower rates, to avoid waste. However, govt benefits rarely reach actual cultivators,” he said.
Despite selling vegetables at reasonable prices – such as ladies’ fingers and bitter gourds at Rs 100 per kg – cultivators struggle to sustain their livelihoods.
(With inputs from Sneha Bhave and Zaafirah Siddiqui)