Due to rains, the cost of veggies have surged. The prices of some vegetables in cities in southern India have shot up over the last week after heavy rains in various parts of the five states damaged crops and affected their movement to markets. In Kerala, the city of Ernakulam has also observed the price of vegetables rising. "One of the main reasons for the hike in vegetable price is due to less production. Most of the vegetables come from Tamil Nadu and they incurred huge losses during the lockdown. So now, their production is less, hiking the price in Kerala markets," says KT Siddique, member of Ernakulam Market Stall Owners Association.
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In Chennai also, the situation is quiet similar. Koyambedu All Vendors Association President John said, “The heavy rains in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have resulted in a shortage of onion supply. The onions are transported from Karnataka, AP or Nashik, so the number of lorries that come to Tamil Nadu has reduced and thereby increased the price of onions.” Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are the most recent states to be hit by heavy rainfall. They have suffered huge losses. Last week, authorities in Andhra Pradesh stated that crops over 67,864 hectares spread over eight districts were destroyed.
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This included 5,435 hectares in Visakhapatnam, besides 29,362 hectares in East Godavari, West Godavari (15,926), Krishna (12,466), Guntur (381), YSR Kadapa (2,053), Kurnool (249) and Srikakulam (1,992). The damaged crops include paddy, pulses, sugarcane, maize, ragi, cotton, and tobacco. Horticultural crops spread over 6,229 hectares have also been damaged, affecting vegetables, bananas, papaya, betel vine, yam, turmeric, black gram and sugarcane, authorities said. This has shot up the prices in cities like Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.