High vegetables prices may further push retail inflation

Rates of key veggies are yet to show signs of coming down compared to mid-July due to supply constraint as a result of deficient rainfall across the country.

According to IMD, the country has witnessed 19 per cent rain deficiency during the season so far. It says that monsoon is expected to bring widespread showers in August but is likely to run into trouble in September (the terminal part of monsoon).

Potato which was selling at a high of Rs 20 a kg in retail in Delhi around middle of July is still ruling at the same price in and around the national capital.

Similarly, tomato which was at Rs 40 a kg then has further soared to Rs 50 a kg in Delhi and NCR, traders said.

Onion which was available at a reasonable price of Rs 10-15 a kg around July 15 has risen to Rs 20-25/kg now in Delhi and NCR.

Likewise, prices of important vegetables continue to remain on the higher side in other metros of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai too.

Data provided by National Horticulture Research Development Foundation (NHRDF), an arm of ICAR which monitors vegetable items like onion, potato and garlic, indicate their high costs.

R P Gupta, Director NHRDF, told PTI that deficient monsoon in June has brought down production of potato in kharif season by more than half in Karnataka, a key producer of the crop. (MORE)