PUNE: Prices of leafy vegetables, which had gone up over the last few weeks, have now come down by 30-40% in retail markets across the city. Officials at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Gultekdi said they have been getting fresh harvest from areas across the district.
On Sunday, the Gultekdi Market Yard got 1.5lakh bunches of coriander, against last week's 1lakh. Similarly, the intake of fenugreek, spinach and dill has been in good quantities, said officials.
Dutta Kalamkar, head of the vegetable section at Gultekdi Market Yard, told TOI, "We were not getting an adequate supply of leafy vegetables for some weeks. Excessive heat and an unconducive atmosphere had damaged these plantations last month. Now, we have started getting fresh intake from the district, so rates have come down. We are getting the required supply. We anticipate a further fall in prices as more plantations of leafy vegetables have taken place in the district."
"Usually, prices of vegetables go up ahead of school opening as demand goes up. But this year, the situation is a little different," said Deepak Dighe, a commission agent at the market yard.
Meanwhile, prices of tomatoes have come down by 5-10% in retail markets, said vendors. A kg of tomato, which was sold for over Rs100 two weeks ago, is now going for Rs 80-90. But prices vary area-wise, said APMC officials.
Meanwhile, buyers are happy to get vegetables at affordable prices for the last few days. "Often, we see retailers selling veggies at almost double the APMC rates. So, buyers never enjoy the fall in prices. We still buy a bunch of coriander for around Rs 20. But in the APMC market, it is available at less than Rs10," observed Archana Shinde, a working professional from Aundh.
Asha Gandekar, a housewife from Vishrantwadi, added, "Buying vegetables directly from the farmers' groups is the only way forward. We have observed a huge price difference between retail and farmers' rates."
