Jaipur: Vegetable prices have surged across Jaipur following a supply crunch triggered by the active southwest monsoon, which has disrupted harvesting and transportation in major vegetable-producing states.Traders at Muhana Mandi, the city’s largest wholesale vegetable market, said reduced arrivals over the past week have pushed up wholesale prices of several vegetables, with the impact now clearly visible in retail markets.Traders said supplies have declined over the past week, driving up wholesale prices of several vegetables. The impact is now being felt in retail markets, with tomatoes selling for Rs 80-100 per kg, up from Rs 30-40 per kg in June.TOI spoke to wholesalers and retailers Thursday to assess the impact of the supply disruption.“Tomatoes, which were available at Rs 30-40 per kg in June, are now retailing at Rs 80-100 per kg, almost double last week’s rates,” said Abdul Sagir, a wholesale tomato trader at Muhana Mandi. He added that if rainfall continues to disrupt supplies, tomato prices could rise further in the coming days.According to Imran Qureshi, vice-president of the Jaipur Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Traders Association, the monsoon has interrupted harvesting and transportation, leading to lower arrivals in wholesale markets. “Hybrid tomatoes are currently selling at Rs 30-34 per kg in wholesale, while desi tomatoes are priced at Rs 23-25 per kg. However, transportation costs, wastage and retailer margins have pushed premium-quality tomatoes to Rs 80-100 per kg in retail markets,” he said.The supply crunch has also pushed up prices of onions, garlic, capsicum and several other vegetables. Green peas remain the costliest, with wholesale prices of Rs 120-125 per kg translating to an estimated retail price of Rs 204-213 per kg. Capsicum is selling at Rs 65-75 per kg in wholesale markets and is expected to retail at Rs 111-128 per kg, while garlic is likely to cost consumers between Rs 102 and Rs 272 per kg, depending on quality.Retail prices are also expected to remain high for cauliflower, cluster beans, lemons, tinda, pointed gourd (parwal), bitter gourd and ridge gourd. Onion prices are expected to range between Rs 31 and Rs 51 per kg.Traders said improved local arrivals have helped keep prices of potatoes, bottle gourd, okra and brinjal relatively stable despite the broader rise.Shiv Shankar Sharma, president of the Muhana Potato Commission Agents Association, said the shortage was seasonal and linked to monsoon-related disruptions. He said prices were likely to soften once rainfall eases and fresh arrivals resume, but consumers may continue to pay higher prices for most vegetables through the rest of July.
