Good yield has helped keep the vegetable prices lowe despite the increase in price rise. A scene from a vegetable market in Thiruvananthapuram. more-in Fuel prices may be burning a hole in consumers’ pockets, but they could take some solace in stable prices of essentials, at least so far. Prices of vegetables and provisions in Thiruvananthapuram markets are yet to show any impact of the price rise. In the city’s famed Chala market, vegetables prices are at a low — cabbage - ?18, carrot - ?26, thundan green chilli – ?20, brinjal - ?20, nendran – ?44, Rasa kadali - ?30, snake gourd - ?30, onion - ?20. The price of Thundan mulagu, which had climbed to more than ?400 a few months ago, was ?25 on Saturday, while shallots was available for ?36, down from ?120 to ?140 sometime ago. A wholesale vegetable trader said there was indeed a slight increase in prices owing to the hike in transportation charges, but there was no discernible impact in the market, as vegetable prices were very low owing to good production. “If the transportation cost earlier was ?2.5, today it is ?3,” he said. Prices were unlikely to increase for a month or two, but would go up again if farmers did not get the desired returns and failed to grow another round of vegetables. A retail trader in the market said provision prices too were stable. Tuvar dal (sambar parippu) cost ?80 a kg and sugar ?37, down ?1 from Friday. A wholesale provision dealer said rise in fuel prices was usually reflected in the cost of provisions, but it was perhaps a bit too early to say the prices would not rise. “We may be able to know how things go when the next truckload arrives, in a couple of days.” Mohammed Rafeek, president of the Chala main unit of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, said petrol did not matter much but diesel price hike was hurting the traders badly. Vegetable prices were stable, but those trading in other commodities were absorbing this increase in cost. “Even parcel services will increase their charges now.” Mr. Rafeek said price revision by oil retailers was being met without much protests because it was not a festival or wedding season and families were focussing on school reopening. Had that not been the case, there would have a been a huge brouhaha and the authorities would have taken a lot of heat.

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