The rising prices of vegetables amid extreme weather conditions across India has hit households across the country. A LocalCircles survey has stated that 7 in 10 household consumers indicated that their weekly spending on vegetables has increased by 25-100 per cent in the past few weeks. A drought last year and a long spell of heat wave have over the past two months have significantly reduced the supplies of foods like pulses, vegetables, and cereals.
The monsoon has also been slower than was predicted, resulting in an 18 per cent rainfall deficit so far this season. The delay and inadequate rainfall in some
parts of the country has delayed planting of summer crops, which require adequate rainfall for optimal growth.
Food inflation has been high since 2023. Government data shows year-on-year inflation rates at 28 per cent for vegetables, pulses 17 per cent, cereals 8.6 per cent, meat and fish 8.2 per cent, spices 7.8 per cent, and eggs 7.1 per cent.
Amid high food inflation and rising vegetable prices, LocalCircles conducted a second survey this season to find out how consumers are faring. At least 64 per cent household consumers surveyed confirmed paying Rs 50/kg or more for tomato, Rs 30/kg or more for potato and Rs 30/kg or more for onion. At total of 21 per cent of them paid over Rs 100/kg for tomato.
A comparison of prices showed that in the last one week alone, the per kilogram price paid for tomato by two in three consumers has risen from Rs 30 or more to Rs 50 or more.
Those surveyed were asked, “How much has your weekly household vegetable spending (for the same items) increased as compared to prior weeks due to higher prices?” Out of 22,781 consumers who responded, 18 per cent indicated that it has “increased by 100 per cent or more” while 14 per cent indicated that it has “increased by 75-100 per cent.”
The survey received over 48,000 responses from household consumers located in 343 districts of India. A total of 62 per cent respondents were men while 38 per cent respondents were women.
A total of 42 per cent respondents were from Tier 1 cities, 27 per cent from Tier 2 and 31 per cent respondents were from Tier 3, 4 and rural districts.
LocalCircles, a Social Media platform, enables citizens and small businesses to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions and enables the Government to make policies that are citizen and small business centric.
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