PANAJI
Consumers in Goa are grappling with sharp fluctuations in the prices of vegetables and daily-use commodities, as local markets witnessed a sudden drops in rates following improved arrivals from neighboring States.
This week, the price of onions in Panaji’s wholesale and retail markets tumbled from Rs 80 to Rs 50 per kilo, offering temporary relief to households. Chillies too became cheaper by nearly 20 per cent, while garlic prices registered a noticeable decline.
Traders who The Goan spoke to attribute the easing of rates to a steady inflow of fresh stocks from Maharashtra and Karnataka, which has helped stabilize supplies after weeks of uncertainty.
“Arrivals from Belagavi and Kolhapur have picked up, and that has eased the pressure on local stocks,” said a trader at the Panaji market.
“When supplies dip, prices shoot up overnight. The moment trucks arrive, rates fall just as quickly.”
Consumers, however, remain bewildered by the unpredictable swings. “Last week I paid Rs 80 for onions, today it’s Rs 50. Tomorrow it could go up again. It’s impossible to plan our weekly budgets,” said a Panaji resident.
A wholesaler operating in Panaji said that such volatility in prices is not unusual during the transition from monsoon to winter crops, when supply chains are vulnerable to weather disruptions and transport delays.
The dependence on Maharashtra and Karnataka for bulk supplies also makes Goa’s markets sensitive to fluctuations in production and distribution.
While the current dip has brought some respite, traders caution that prices could rise again if arrivals slow down.
For now, consumers are enjoying a brief reprieve, but the wild swings in vegetable prices continue to highlight the fragility of Goa’s food supply chain and the challenges of ensuring price stability in local markets.
Meanwhile, the vegetable vending outlets of the Goa State Horticulture Corporation (GSHC) continue to be well stocked and are selling vegetables at a nearly 30 per-cent discounted rate.
At these GSHC outlets, okra was selling for Rs 64 per kg, cabbage at Rs 29 per kg and cauliflower at Rs 40 per kg.
Carrots were priced at Rs 59 per kg, pappadi was available at Rs 59 per kg, chilli for Rs 53 per kg, onion at Rs 27 per kg, potato at Rs 32 per kg and tomato at Rs 43 per kg.
