Middlemen avoided, vegetable prices coming down; Horticorp delivers 41 tonnes of vegetables on Thursday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Horticorp purchasing vegetables directly from farmers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and starting to sell the vegetables at a lower price, the rising prices of vegetables are coming down in the open market. From Saturday onwards, farmer groups in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will directly deliver vegetables at the district centres of Horticorp in Kerala.

The price of one kg of tomatoes that used to cost up to Rs 120 was Rs 80 on Thursday. With this, the price of one kg of tomatoes came down to Rs 100 in the open market. The prices of other items too came down. Middlemen had been reaping illicit profits in the name of high diesel prices and heavy rains. The high-level meeting chaired by Minister P Prasad had decided to bring vegetables directly from farmers to curb soaring prices. On Thursday, 41 tonnes of vegetables were brought to Kerala from Thirunelveli and Mysore.

This is how price of tomatoes came down

• The price of one kg of tomatoes stood at Rs 120-130. Following this, the Horticorp intervened.
• Tomatoes were bought for Rs 70 from Tirunelveli.
• The tomatoes were then sold for Rs 80 by including the vehicle's rental charge.
• Following this, the price of tomatoes came down to Rs 100 in the open market.

Prices of vegetables on Thursday
Item - Open Market, Horticorp
Brinjal........................ 90, 48

Hyacinth bean............................75, 53
Eggplant....................... 85, 63
Ladies finger.......................... 60, 33
Bitter gourd......................... 80, 60
Carrot .......................... 70, 55
Tomatoes .................... 100, 80
Beetroot ....................... 60, 30
Cabbage ...................... 45, 26
Cauliflower .............. 90, 65
Beans ........................ 90, 66
Onion ......................... 50, 35
Cucumber ...................... 60, 29
Drumstick...................120, 98
Snake gourd........................70, 38

• 5479 tonnes: Vegetables required for a day in Kerala
• 4301 tonnes: Grown in Kerala
• 78%: Produced in Kerala
• 153: Horticorp outlets
• 417: Eco shops