Heavy Rains Cause Vegetable Prices to Soar in Delhi-NCR

New Delhi, India – The monsoon season has brought relief from the heat but has also led to a sharp increase in vegetable prices in the National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR). Heavy rains have caused significant inflation, with the prices of potatoes, onions, and tomatoes soaring.

Tomatoes are now priced between Rs 100 and Rs 150 per kg, onions at Rs 90 per kg, and potatoes at Rs 80 per kg in Delhi-NCR. Experts predict that vegetable prices will continue to rise in north India, including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi NCR, and Haryana, due to crop damage from heavy rainfall.

A customer in Delhi expressed concern, saying, “It is hard to survive because of the rising prices of vegetables. Tomatoes and chilies are expensive, and major ingredients in food are now out of reach. A small amount of vegetables costs five hundred to six hundred rupees.”

A vendor at Azadpur Mandi added, “The prices of vegetables are rising due to rain. There is a possibility of further increases in the prices of onions and tomatoes in the coming days. The price surge is more significant in the markets of UP and South than in Delhi.”

Government data shows that wholesale food prices have risen month-on-month, with the Wholesale Price Index for food increasing from 5.52% in April to 7.40% in May. The overall wholesale inflation in the country rose to 2.61% in May from 1.26% in April. Although retail inflation remains within the RBI’s 2-6% comfort level, food inflation continues to be a concern for policymakers.