Vegetable prices soar across Punjab, Haryana

In the wake of supply crunch, prices of vegetables including peas and tomato have seen a significant surge in the last one week in Punjab and Haryana including Chandigarh.
The prices of peas have almost doubled from nearly Rs 70-80 per kg to current Rs 120-Rs 130 per kg, traders said today.
Tomato prices have jumped from Rs 30 per kg last week to Rs 40 per kg in the retail markets this week, traders said.
Over a month ago, tomatoes, which are integral to preparation of most Punjabi dishes, were selling at around Rs 20 per kg.
Onion prices, continued to remain high at around Rs 60 per kg.

Traders said that prices of other commonly consumed vegetables have also witnessed an increase.

Barring potato, whose prices have remained stable between Rs 15-Rs 25 per kg for the local and 'pahari' varieties, capsicum, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, spinach, cucumber, pumpkin, beans, carrots, among other vegetables have registered an increase in their prices.
Lemon prices have also soared from Rs 20 for 250 grams to Rs 30 for the same weight.
Cucumbers, which are high in demand in the current season, have also become costly selling at Rs 30-Rs 50 per kg for different varieties as against Rs 15-Rs 20 per kg earlier.

Traders point out that recent spell of moderate to heavy rains at the fag end of the monsoon season at many places in the hill state of H.P. And two agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana have resulted in short supply of some of the vegetables.