Click to play videoNew Delhi: Rising vegetable prices, which resulted into hike in inflation rate last week, have stabilised now. Farmers and wholesale sellers say the rise was due to unseasonal rains.
The unseasonal rains last week had halted the harvest for the tomato farmer Satbir Singh.
After the weather cleared a few days back, he is back at work on his tomato fields.
''Because of the rains, the prices had shot up to Rs 200-250 a crate. Now it is back to Rs 100-150 a crate,'' said tomato farmer Satbir Singh.
But for Satbir, a part of his earnings from the farm is unduly lost to the middleman.
''If it sells for Rs 150, then we end up with only Rs 130 as the middleman takes a cut,'' said Satbir.
As the tomato reaches the wholesale mandi, it goes through the usual process of auction after inspection and again you find a price hike at the consumers' end.
''We take 6 per cent commission from the farmers but we give them loans six months in advance,'' said Azadpur Mandi Corporation Executive Member Ravi Malhotra.
But despite, the presence of the middleman, which is a reality of Indian agriculture, the price hike this time could also be attributed to unseasonal rains as well.
''Demands depend upon weather conditions,'' said Malhotra.
Farmers, wholesalers and vegetable retailers agree that it was unseasonal rains that sent vegetable prices shooting through the roof last week.
But eventually it's a game of demand and supply, and with supply normal this week, vegetables cost just the same again.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.