Veggie prices withstand wrath of rain

Panaji: Despite excessive rainfall in Oct, prices of vegetables stayed in the normal range. While Goa relies heavily on its neighbours for vegetable supplies, some are sourced locally.Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd (GSHCL) managing director, Chandrahas Desai, said the supply chain remained unhindered as Maharashtra and Karnataka, from where Goa sources its potatoes, onions, and tomatoes, did not receive heavy rains.The price of tomatoes is Rs 50, while potatoes are Rs 40, which was also the rate last week. Similarly, the price of onions has been Rs 50 since the beginning of Oct. The prices of these vegetables rose during the monsoon and around Ganesh Chaturthi due to a supply crunch from Kolhapur and Belagavi.Prices of vegetables that are sourced locally have remained the same. Okra is Rs 50 per kg, brinjal Rs 80 per kg, cucumber Rs 60 per kg, cluster beans Rs 80 per kg, and green chillies are Rs 60 per kg.“While there was continuous rainfall in the coastal areas of Goa, the rest of the areas didn’t receive that much, which is why the vegetable supply wasn’t disrupted as much as it was during the monsoon,” said Desai.Sadiq Baig, a vegetable vendor at the Panaji market, said the prices of most vegetables haven’t changed since the start of Oct.

“There is always a small fluctuation in the price range, which is normal,” he said.Sandeep Kumar, another vegetable vendor, said, “We get vegetables on an everyday basis. There is no compromise on the quality as well. Diwali is not as significant a festival as Chaturthi in Goa, so we weren’t worried about the supply crisis,” he said.