Vegetable prices in Pune have risen by 15 to 20 per cent over the past week as high temperatures, inadequate rainfall and lower wholesale arrivals tighten supplies, while potato prices have nearly doubled ahead of Navratri.
Retail prices of cluster beans, okra, green chillies, drumsticks, peas, capsicum and other vegetables have increased across the city. Cluster beans, which sold for Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kg last week, are now priced at Rs 120 to Rs 130 per kg, according to the report. Okra is selling at Rs 110 to Rs 120 per kg, compared with Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kg last week.
Other retail prices include Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kg for onions, Rs 35 to Rs 40 for potatoes, Rs 30 to Rs 40 for tomatoes, Rs 80 to Rs 100 for brinjal, Rs 130 to Rs 140 for drumsticks, Rs 100 to Rs 120 for peas, Rs 60 to Rs 70 for cabbage and Rs 140 to Rs 160 for green chillies.
Potatoes have recorded one of the sharpest increases. Retail prices have risen to Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg from around Rs 20 per kg a fortnight ago. Traders said wholesale potato prices had increased by approximately 10 per cent over the past week. Seasonal demand during Navratri, when potatoes are widely used in fasting meals, has added pressure to the market.
Around 90 truckloads of vegetables arrived at the Pune Agricultural Produce Market Committee’s Market Yard in Gultekdi on Sunday. Green chillies came from Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, while cluster beans were supplied from Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. Carrots arrived from Indore, and drumsticks were transported from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Locally grown tomatoes, okra, cluster beans, cucumbers, cauliflower, cabbage and capsicum were also among the arrivals. A Market Yard trader attributed the price increases to heat-related production and supply disruptions, saying arrivals of several vegetables had declined. The supply of leafy vegetables has also fallen, adding to pressure on retail rates.
The reported changes are already affecting household purchasing decisions. A Sahakarnagar resident said that even small increases across several vegetables were affecting the monthly household budget. Another consumer said families were buying smaller quantities and switching to cheaper alternatives to manage daily expenses.
The Pune market’s current movement reflects the role of wholesale arrivals, inter-state supply routes and seasonal demand in determining what urban households pay at retail outlets. Consumers are expected to continue tracking prices as heat-related production conditions and Navratri demand influence arrivals in the coming days.
