Vegetable prices down, says ministry

Irangika RANGE

Vegetable prices which skyrocketed over the past few months have come down drastically with a bumper vegetable harvest being reaped in every part of the country and reaching the market.

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said the prices of vegetables have decreased in the retail market when compared with the prices in February.

Meanwhile, the prices of several essential items have also decreased. Prices of vegetables are expected to further drop sharply since sufficient vegetable stocks from upcountry and the South are released and supplied to the market punctually by farmers.

“Proper marketing strategies and successful marketing management followed by the government to provide relief to consumers and maintaining discipline among traders have resulted in a decrease in prices of goods in the market,” the minister said. Private sector traders and the super market chains have also pledged to bring down vegetable prices due to direct involvement of the Trade Ministry.

Fernando said that consumers can purchase vegetables and other essential commodities at low rates through co-operatives, Coop Cities, Mini Coop Cities and Sathosa branches across the country. Compared to the retail prices in Pettah market in February, a price of a kilo of cabbage has come down from Rs 110 to Rs 50 while the price of a kilo of beans has come down from Rs 210 to Rs.120.

Meanwhile, prices of a kilo of leeks, carrot, beet root, chillies, white radish, loofah, okra, bitter gourd, cucumber, pumpkin and brinjal have reduced from Rs.110, Rs.190, Rs.170, Rs.230, Rs.75, Rs.130, Rs.90, Rs.170, Rs.60, Rs.120 and Rs.120 to Rs.50, Rs.60, Rs.40, Rs.140, Rs.40, Rs.50, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.40, Rs.30 and Rs.40.