Rain damage sends vegetable prices soaring in Bengaluru

Vegetable prices in Bengaluru have surged significantly over the past week due to rain-induced crop damage and reduced supplies. Tomatoes, which previously sold for Rs 25 per kg, now cost Rs 60. Beans have jumped to Rs 120 per kg, while cucumber prices have risen to Rs 44-45 per kg. Farmers report that heavy rains caused tomatoes to fall from plants and some produce to rot, exacerbating the supply shortage. Leafy greens like country coriander (Rs 130 per kg), dill (Rs 128), and fenugreek leaves (Rs 120) have also seen steep price increases.

Garlic remains one of the most expensive items at Rs 320 per kg, while lemons and sweet corn have also become costlier. A single lemon now sells for Rs 8-10, and sweet corn cobs have risen from Rs 10 to Rs 25. Farmers attribute the price hikes to a combination of below-normal monsoon rainfall, high temperatures, and sudden showers.

In contrast, flower growers in Bengaluru Rural district are struggling with plummeting prices due to low demand during Pitru Paksha. Chrysanthemums have dropped from Rs 400 to Rs 30-40 per kg, marigolds from Rs 60 to Rs 5-10, and jasmine from Rs 1,500 to Rs 400-500. Many growers are unable to cover harvesting and transport costs, forcing some to discard their produce. Mrityunjaya, a grower from Doddaballapura, noted that despite a good yield in the polyhouse, the low prices make it impossible to recover investments.