Ahmedabad vegetable prices have risen sharply during the Navratri and festival period after arrivals at the wholesale market fell by up to 25%, pushing several commonly used items beyond Rs 80 a kilogram and increasing pressure on household food budgets.
According to a report by Gujarat Samachar, reduced supply combined with higher festival demand has driven up retail prices across the city. Peas and lemons have reached about Rs 200 per kilogram, while ginger is being sold at Rs 150-180 per kilogram.
Ridge gourd, bitter gourd and fenugreek leaves are priced at around Rs 80-100 per kilogram. Brinjal, cauliflower, carrot and coriander have reached Rs 80-90 per kilogram, the report said. Cucumber and onion are selling at about Rs 70 per kilogram.
The increase in onion prices has been particularly notable for households. Onions that were previously available at Rs 20-30 per kilogram are now being sold at about Rs 70 per kilogram. Potatoes have reached Rs 40 per kilogram, while cabbage and tomatoes are available at roughly Rs 40-50 per kilogram.
The report attributed the lower wholesale arrivals to seasonal changes and crop damage. Local traders said supplies to the wholesale market had declined over the past few days, contributing to the increase in retail prices. The report did not provide details of the affected growing regions or quantify the crop losses.
The price rise is affecting both household kitchens and food businesses because peas, lemons, ginger and other vegetables are used regularly in home cooking, hotels and other food establishments. Consumers are responding by reducing the quantity of vegetables they purchase, according to the report.
Households interviewed by the publication said managing the kitchen budget had become more difficult because of food inflation. Some families were reportedly having to spend nearly twice as much as before on vegetables, although the report did not provide a comparative basket or a specific time period for calculating the increase.
The immediate price pressure is expected to continue until fresh supplies improve, local traders told Gujarat Samachar. The next significant change in retail prices will therefore depend on the arrival of new wholesale consignments in Ahmedabad’s markets.
