Vegetable prices in West Bengal have witnessed a staggering surge, particularly affecting chillies and tomatoes, which have experienced an unprecedented increase of over 200 percent in the past two weeks.

Previously priced at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg just a couple of weeks ago, tomatoes now carry a hefty price tag of Rs 130-150. Similarly, green chilies have soared to Rs 300-350 per kg, more than doubling from Rs 150 per kg just a week ago. Other vegetables have also encountered a substantial price hike, ranging between 30-50 percent. Traders' body officials assert that the situation is equally dire in the districts, where vegetable prices have skyrocketed, creating a grave concern.

Kamal Dey, the president of the West Bengal Vendors Association, attributes the price surge to scorching heat and insufficient rainfall. He explains, "The crops have withered and dried up, leading to a scarcity of vegetables." Dey remains hopeful that the situation will improve within the next two weeks as the monsoon rains are expected to revitalize the plants. "Currently, all tomatoes are being sourced from southern states, and the entire country is grappling with this crisis," he adds. Experts anticipate that fresh tomato crops will enter the market in the upcoming 10-14 days.

Taking cognizance of the issue, the West Bengal government has already intervened and issued directives to its retailing network, Sufal Bangla, to provide vegetables at fair prices within the city. Sufal Bangla was previously charging Rs 115 per kg for tomatoes and Rs 240 for green chilies. This surge in prices comes at a time when the country was anticipating a decline in inflation. In May, the consumer price index-based inflation stood at 4.25%, a slight decrease from April's 4.7 percent. The sharp escalation in vegetable prices adds further strain to household budgets and could potentially impede rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) if inflation fails to remain within the targeted level of approximately 4 percent.

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