Why Are Vegetable Prices In Guwahati On The Rise?

Guwahati has seen a significant surge in vegetable prices recently, causing concern among citizens due to rising costs of potatoes, onions, and tomatoes, burdening customers financially

Guwahati has been witnessing a significant surge in vegetable prices over the past few months. The prices of essential vegetables like potatoes, onions, and tomatoes have skyrocketed, leaving consumers burdened and worried. The situation has raised concerns among the citizens, with many wondering what could be the reasons behind this sudden inflation. 

Guwahati has three main vegetable markets located at different areas of the city, namely in Fancy Bazar, Pamohi, and Ganeshguri. Both the former locations have a wholesale market, and the latter location is a retail vegetable vendors spot. A visit to all these three locations show differences in the prices of vegetables.

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According to market sources, the wholesale price of potatoes imported from Agra has surged from ₹1,800 to ₹2,700 per quintal, while those from Bengal are now priced at ₹2,300 per quintal. This significant increase has led to a substantial hike in retail prices, affecting both domestic consumers and eatery owners. Onions have also seen a significant price rise, with retail prices increasing by ₹10 per kilo to ₹40.

One of the primary reasons behind the inflation in vegetable prices is the disruption in the supply chain. Guwahati's vegetable market is largely dependent on supplies from other states, mainly West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya. However, the recent floods and heavy rainfall in Assam has affected the local crop yield, leading to a shortage in supply. The transportation costs from different states have also increased due to the damaged roads and bridges, further adding to the prices.

The wholesalers in Fancy Bazar and Pamohi are of the opinion that, “The surges in vegetable prices is due to excessive rainfall in Guwahati which has resulted in the damage of crops in local farming locations like Barpeta and Dorong. Due to which we have to transport vegetables from other States like Meghalaya (Shillong) and West Bengal.”

On being asked about the price difference in wholesale market in Fancy bazar and Pamohi and retail market in Ganeshguri, one of the vendor at Ganeshguri stated that, "There is no wholesale market in this whole area therefore we have to purchase vegetables from wholesalers from Fancy Bazar and Pamohi. Purchasing is still fine what impacts the price here in the transportation cost. The wholesale market is quite far from here, plus the weight of vegetables.” 

Another vendor also mentioned that “In this area we get our vegetables from wholesalers, who source them from different locations across the country depending on the season. We have no control over prices and make very little profit."Another vendor on Office Road at Paltan Bazaar said, "The unpredictibility of the weather does a lot of damage to crops. Buyers usually bargain with us in order to reduce the prices but whatever we charge doesn’t make us much profit.”

When we stated that vegetables has become unaffordable for the common people, one of the vendors in Ganeshguri replied by saying, “We are also common people, what can we do if the weather doesn’t support the vegetation. We also have kids to look after and a family to feed.”

Vegetable prices often fluctuate depending on the season. During the peak season, the supply is abundant, and prices are lower. However, during the off-season, the supply is limited, leading to higher prices. Guwahati's vegetable market is currently experiencing the off-season, resulting in higher prices. The lack of proper storage facilities in Guwahati is another reason for the rising vegetable prices. Vegetables are perishable items and require proper storage to maintain their quality. However, the storage facilities in Guwahati are limited, leading to a significant amount of wastage. This wastage adds to the costs, which are eventually passed on to the consumers.

Government Policies:

The government's policies have also contributed to the inflation in vegetable prices. The recent increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for vegetables has led to higher production costs for farmers. While the MSP is intended to benefit farmers, it has resulted in higher prices for consumers.

Solutions:

To address the issue of rising vegetable prices in Guwahati, the following solutions can be considered:

Improving Supply Chain Efficiency: The government can work on improving the supply chain efficiency by investing in infrastructure development, such as roads and bridges. This will reduce transportation costs and ensure a smoother supply of vegetables.

Regulating Middlemen: The government can regulate the middlemen and cartelisation in the market by introducing policies that promote fair competition. This will help reduce the prices and ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their produce.

Investing in Storage Facilities: The government can invest in building modern storage facilities in Guwahati to reduce wastage and maintain the quality of vegetables. This will help reduce costs and ensure a steady supply of vegetables.

Promoting Local Farming: The government can promote local farming in Guwahati by providing incentives to farmers. This will reduce the dependence on supplies from other states and ensure a steady supply of fresh vegetables.

Conclusion

The inflation in vegetable prices in Guwahati is a complex issue with multiple factors contributing to it. To address this issue, it is essential to understand the underlying reasons and work on solutions that promote fair competition, improve supply chain efficiency, and reduce wastage. The prices of essential vegetables have skyrocketed, raising concerns about the government's efforts to control inflation. The sudden spike, which coincides with the end of the election season, has sparked questions about the role of local authorities and the state government in addressing this issue. The government must take prompt action to mitigate the effects of inflation and ensure that essential vegetables are affordable for the common people.