Mumbai rains: Early monsoon makes vegetable a luxury!

The sharp rise in vegetable prices has once again punched a hole in the pockets of Mumbairsquos middleclass families already reeling under rising living costs Triggered by heavy premonsoon showers followed by the early arrival of the monsoon the sudden surge in prices has left consumers scrambling to balance household budgets For those already burdened by high fuel prices rising education fees and transportation costs this added expense is a serious blowPrices of vegetables soar at Dadar market PicAtul KambleWhy are prices risingAgriculturist Ashima Potdar from Mahad explained ldquoThe key standing vegetable crops in Maharashtra mdash tomatoes brinjal onions potatoes cabbage cauliflower cucumber chillies and various gourds mdash are highly vulnerable to erratic rainfall Earlier harvesting and supply were relatively steady But now due to heavy premonsoon and monsoon rains crops are getting damaged more frequently affecting their quality and disrupting the supply chain This naturally pushes prices uprdquoPankaj Gupta a cauliflower vendor says much of the stock appears fresh initially but turns out to be rotten due to water damage PicAtul KambleAnother Mumbaispecific factor is the import of vegetables from other states such as Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Bihar and Gujarat ldquoThere has been an overall 10ndash15 per cent rise in vegetable pricesrdquo said Digvijay Rathod deputy registrar and deputy secretary at Mumbairsquos Agricultural Produce Market Committee APMC ldquoWholesalers and retailers here donrsquot rely solely on local produce Their panIndia network helps ensure supply especially from states with lesser rainfall impact But when they procure from outside Maharashtra transportation costs shoot up mdash and those costs are passed on to the consumerrdquoGopal Gokul from Bandra says fluctuating demand and high prices have made vegetable sales unpredictable and risky PicRitika GondhalekarActivists ask govt to interveneSeveral key roads have been closed or damaged leading to transportation delays and supply shortages For instance the price of tomatoes in Mumbai has surged from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 60 per kg within a day If this situation continues prices are likely to rise even further putting an additional burden on the middleclass population Although the state has invested significantly in cold storage facilities and market infrastructure these measures must now be leveraged urgentlyVinod Kumar Vaish garlic vendor at Dadar market PicAtul KambleThe governmentrsquos initiative of connecting farmers directly with consumers through cooperative outlets is commendable and must be expanded rapidly to control prices and ensure fair access to essential food items We therefore demand that the state government take immediate and effective steps to stabilise vegetable prices by strengthening directfromfarm distribution channels and utilising cold storage infrastructure to prevent spoilageIn addition the state government should be monitoring and regulating middlemen and traders to prevent exploitation thereby ensuring smooth transportation of vegetables despite weatherrelated disruptions Timely intervention will not only help stabilise prices but also safeguard food security of millions across the state We look forward to your prompt and positive action said Advocate Godfrey Pimenta trustee Watchdog Foundation in the letter addressed to Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisCitizens speak outMany residents expressed frustration pointing out that despite paying taxes and GST on nearly every product and service they receive little relief in times of crisisEsha Narkar from Vasai was shocked by vegetable prices after stepping out to shop having relied on online deliveries so far Narkar said ldquoWe usually order online but when I had to go to the market recently I was shocked at the prices I even called my mom in Dahisar to check if it was a Vasaispecific issue Turns out it wasnrsquot A weekrsquos groceries used to cost Rs 700ndash800 including meat Last week I paid Rs 635 just for a few vegetables mdash for two peoplerdquoGirija O from Andheri says her monthly vegetable bill has doubled wiping out the benefit of her recent salary hike ldquoHow do we survive when our basic grocery bills have doubledrdquo said Girija O from Andheri ldquoAfter a longawaited salary hike I felt happy for a moment But with prices of essentials rising Irsquom back to square one Vegetables used to cost Rs 2000 a month Now itrsquos Rs 4000 for a family of four Improving onersquos standard of living feels like a distant dreamrdquoSome families are switching to cheaper alternatives ldquoWe used to buy 2ndash3 kg of tomatoes every two weeks at Rs 30kgrdquo said a Santacruz resident ldquoNow we use tamarind instead mdash no one likes it but itrsquos affordable Tomato prices are just too highrdquo