KOLHAPUR: Wholesale prices of vegetables over the last one year have risen two-three times shows Kolhapur Agriculture Produce Market Committee 's ( APMC ) data. As the winter advances, supply of vegetables in the city markets has increased leading to a fall in the prices. However, year-on-year comparison shows that prices have doubled for some vegetables such as tomatoes, cluster bean and okra. Prices have not declined much, but traders expect the prices to start falling in a week.Experts claim that during the same time last year demonetization was implemented. This stopped the currency supply and led to sudden decrease in the prices of the vegetables. The farmers needed money and the traders did not have enough of it. It forced the farmers to sell their produce cheap. Dilip Raut , secretary of the APMC, said, "This year around 30% of the vegetables supplied from the nearby villages was destroyed owing to the untimely heavy rains. Fearing loss, the farmers delayed harvesting shrinking the supply volume. In the last one month, the prices of the perishable produces are coming down slowly." The retail prices of vegetables are around 30% to 45% higher than the wholesale rates. This is due to wastage of perishable goods in transportation.For instance brinjal costs around Rs20/kg in the APMC, while in the city's retail markets it fetches Rs35-50/kg. Also, tomato costs Rs22/kg in APMC and in retail markets the rate is Rs40/kg. The supply of tomatoes during this time a year ago was 3,000 crates each weighing 10kg. Now the supply is 1,184 crates each day, which means the supply of the vegetable has taken a hit this winter. Jamir, a wholesale vegetable trader, said, "The increase in the costs of transportation and other services too has contributed to the price rise over the last year. This year the prices have remained high mainly due to shortage in supply."

Stay updated with all the Latest Kolhapur headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.