Low-cost tide turns as temp soars, veggies turn dearer
Times of India | 31 March 2025
12 Kolkata: With temperatures soaring since mid-March, Bengal's farmlands struggled, vegetables lost their colour and freshness, and shrivelled. The excessive heat forced farmers to over-irrigate, leading to waterlogging and crop damage. Production nearly halved, creating a supply crunch that drove up market prices.
The sharp rise in vegetable prices over 10 days reflected the impact of extreme weather on supply chains. On March 20, pointed gourd and brinjal were priced at Rs 40-Rs 50 per kg, but by March 30, they soared to Rs 70-Rs 80. Similarly, cucumber price doubled from Rs 40 to Rs 80-Rs 90 while drumstick went from Rs 40 to Rs 80 per kg. Bitter gourd, okra, and green peas also witnessed hikes. Green chillies, already expensive at Rs 80 per kg, rose to Rs 100; capsicum and carrots saw moderate rise — from Rs 60 to Rs 80 and from Rs 40 to Rs 50, respectively. With summer intensifying, further price hikes seem inevitable, putting additional strain on household budgets.
"Summer has just begun, and I dread what the markets will look like in April, May, and June," said Arup Ghosh, a medical representative from Chetla.
Vendors at Maniktala Market are struggling with deteriorating crop quality. "The bright colours that draw customers are fading. The usual firmness of vegetables and desirable size are no longer visible. To maintain sales, we are sorting produce into different size categories," said Kartick Saha, a wholesale trader.
Despite local production meeting 80% of demand, Bengal is increasingly relying on import for certain vegetables. Drumsticks, cauliflower, white-pointed gourds, raw mangoes, jackfruit, peas, and okra are now being sourced from other states due to poor local yield.
"There is a direct link between taste of vegetables and their nutritional value. Weather-affected cr-ops are likely to have lower nutrition. Because these crops are more vulnerable to pests, farmers are applying excessive pesticides, posing more risk to consumers," said agriculture scientist Jyoti Panda.
According to Kamal De, president of West Bengal Vendors' Association, the past four-five days saw record-breaking heat, severely affecting crops. "Excessive irrigation worsens the situation, though watering in the evening can reduce stress. Farmers are selling premium-grade vegetables at slightly higher prices, but this is not unusual."
Gopal Sonkar, a wholesale trader at Koley Market, said while local produce is still available, quality and size now dictate pricing. "Drumsticks, cauliflower, raw mango, trellis-grown pointed gourds, and peas are coming from outside Bengal. But prices of lemon and cucumber are quite high. We expect these rates to stabilise within a week."
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