Mumbai vegetable prices rise 20-30 per cent as monsoon pause disrupts supply

Many customers are buying smaller quantities as prices soar. File pic

A brief pause in Mumbai's monsoon has pushed up vegetable prices by 20 to 30 per cent, with vendors blaming weather-related crop damage and storage losses. While the increase has not yet hit alarming levels, traders say an extended dry spell or another bout of heavy rain could send prices up further in the coming weeks. At Dadar market, vendors said customers have already begun cutting back on purchases as everyday vegetables become costlier.

What APMC says

Vendors fear higher prices could reduce overall sales if weather conditions worsen. File pic

Girish Vatkar, senior clerk, APMC Mumbai
"The rise in prices is marginal, and we don't see a major risk of further increases right now. Sowing of jowar has not started yet. If rainfall doesn't return to normal, we may face problems. Storage spaces in some places develop leaks during heavy rain, causing vegetables to spoil. Leafy vegetables have been affected the most because excess moisture damages the crop. There is no reason to panic. We just have to hope the rains normalise."

Why prices are rising

>> Heavy rain damaged vegetables in storage.
>> Leaking storage sheds led to spoilage.
>> Leafy vegetables suffered because of excess moisture.
>> Vendors say supply has tightened while demand remains steady.

Impact on buyers

>> Many customers are buying smaller quantities.
>> Bargaining has increased at retail markets.
>> Vendors fear higher prices could reduce overall sales if weather conditions worsen.

Why prices are rising

>> Heavy rain damaged vegetables in storage
>> Leaking storage sheds led to spoilage
>> Leafy vegetables suffered because of excess moisture
>> Vendors say supply has tightened while demand remains steady

Vendors speak

Bheem Gupta
"Almost every vegetable has become costlier. Chillies are still fluctuating, but most vegetables have become Rs 10 to Rs 30 more expensive, with capsicum selling at Rs 80 per kg. People are buying only half a kilo instead of one kilo because they don't want to spend more. Unsold vegetables often spoil by the end of the day. Storage sheds leaked during heavy rain, and a lot of produce got damaged. Even while selling in the market, water dripping onto vegetables meant we had to throw away spoiled stock."

Shivashakti Raghupati
"Customers are bargaining much more than before because of the price hike. Even for vegetables priced at R20, many now ask us to sell them for Rs 10 or Rs 15."