People in the lurch as veggie prices soar

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

Sri Lanka is grappling with a sharp rise in vegetable prices as heavy rains and floods have caused severe damage to agricultural fields.  
Agrarian organisations have warned that prices are likely to climb further in the coming days, exacerbating the situation for consumers.   
Farmers reported that tomatoes, beans, brinjals, and green chillies are among the most severely affected vegetables. Many cultivators expressed concern about their ability to harvest crops and apply fertilizers due to the floods.   
According to market data, the price of tomatoes in the Dambulla market increased due to limited supply from Kalpitiya and Dambulla regions while Green chilli prices have also risen in Pettah and Dambulla markets, attributed to shortages from Puttalam, Jaffna, Sigiriya, and Naula areas.   
A snapshot of daily wholesale and retail prices reveals significant hikes. In Pettah, beans are sold at Rs. 650/kg while tomatoes, from Rs. 180/kg to Rs. 240/kg in Dambulla.  
Speaking to Daily Mirror, Lasantha Sanjeewa, manager of the Meegoda Dedicated Economic Center, attributed the price surge to extensive damage to agricultural fields caused by the recent adverse weather conditions.   
As vegetable cultivation continues to suffer, consumers are left to bear the brunt of soaring food prices, while farmers face an uphill battle to recover from the losses.   
The following are retail prices of some vegetables prices   
- Potatoes: Rs. 420/kg 
- Tomatoes: Rs. 390/kg 
- Garlic: Rs. 1,030/kg 
- Beans: Rs. 860/kg 
- Capsicum: Rs. 950/kg 
- Ginger: Rs. 1,740/kg 
- Green Chillies: Rs. 980/kg 
- Bitter Gourd: Rs. 880/kg