Ahmedabad vegetable prices have risen sharply during the Navratri festival period, with reduced arrivals at the wholesale market and increased demand pushing several everyday vegetables to between Rs 80 and Rs 100 per kilogram, according to a report by Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad. Peas and lemons have reached Rs 200 per kilogram, while ginger is being sold at Rs 150-180 per kilogram.
The increase is affecting household food budgets as families prepare meals during the festive season. The report said vegetable arrivals at Ahmedabad’s wholesale market have fallen by up to 25 per cent. Local traders attributed the lower supply to seasonal changes and crop damage, while demand has increased during the festival period.
Peas, which are used in household cooking as well as in hotels and other food businesses, are currently being sold for up to Rs 200 per kilogram. Lemons have also reached Rs 200 per kilogram. Other vegetables, including ridge gourd, bitter gourd and fenugreek leaves, are priced at Rs 80-100 per kilogram.
Brinjal, cauliflower, carrot and coriander are being sold at around Rs 80-90 per kilogram, the report said. Cucumber and onion have reached Rs 70 per kilogram. Onion, which was earlier available at Rs 20-30 per kilogram, has therefore seen a substantial rise. Cabbage and tomatoes are selling at Rs 40-50 per kilogram, while potatoes have reached Rs 40 per kilogram.
The price movement is being felt not only in retail markets but also in household purchasing decisions. According to the report, customers have begun reducing the quantity of vegetables they buy as prices rise. Women managing household kitchens said the higher prices had made routine meal planning more difficult and had doubled the amount they need to allocate to vegetables.
The situation illustrates how changes in wholesale arrivals can quickly affect urban consumers. Ahmedabad households typically depend on a continuous flow of produce through wholesale and retail markets, but the reported 25 per cent reduction in arrivals has coincided with higher festival demand. The resulting pressure has been visible across a range of commonly used vegetables rather than being limited to one commodity.
Local traders said prices may not see significant relief until fresh supplies begin arriving in the wholesale market. The immediate course of prices will therefore depend on when new arrivals resume and whether supply is sufficient to meet demand during the continuing festival period.
