123 Kolkata: Perishable vegetable prices in Kolkata and its surrounding districts are riding a volatile wave, as erratic weather continues to disrupt crop cycles, reduce yields, and frustrate both consumers and farmers.Despite a sharp price surge about two weeks ago, prices have mostly held steady since then, though the quality of produce worsened noticeably."Vegetables are still selling at high rates, but the quality is subpar. Consumers are forced to compromise," said Jagadish Konar, a wholesaler. Over-irrigation of land is only becoming counter-productive, he added.The main culprits behind the fluctuation are climatic extremes — prolonged dry spells, followed by untimely and heavy rainfall, often accompanied by storms. These adverse conditions have particularly devastated brinjal (eggplant) crops. Farmers report that excessive rainwater at the base of plants weakened the roots and caused premature flower drop, leading to a production gap."In North and South 24 Parganas, many farmers have stopped cultivating brinjal altogether due to the risks," said Sabed Ali Laskar, a farmer from Bhangar. "Even in the early stage, brinjal gives a decent yield. But later, we get barely 40% of the usual output, and the quality is poor. On top of that, the field remains blocked. So we've shifted to chillies and other vegetables."The situation has also increased farmers' dependence on groundwater through tubewells, raising production costs, especially for off-season crops. Despite this, vegetables like capsicum, green chilli, and okra (ladies' finger) are still being produced in substantial volumes in some parts of the state.In Kolkata markets, vegetables like drumsticks, capsicum, carrots, and beans have witnessed steep hikes. For instance, drumstick prices rose from Rs 70–80/kg in April to Rs 100–120/kg in early May. Similarly, capsicum prices jumped from Rs 60–70/kg to Rs 80–100/kg, while brinjal now sells at Rs 70–80/kg — up from Rs 40–50."Price hikes of vegetables directly affect household budgets," said Bikram Dasgupta, a schoolteacher and Barisha resident. "There's no relief even when supply seems to normalise, because quality remains low."While some relief has come with stable prices in the past week, experts warn that unless the weather stabilises and farming inputs are supported, such fluctuations may become the new normal, hurting both livelihoods and kitchens alike.