By TC News Desk
Agartala, 27th January 2025: The harshness of winter has painted a contrasting picture in markets across the state. As temperatures drop, so do vegetable prices, bringing smiles to buyers but leaving farmers grappling with despair.
“The winter has always been a time for lower vegetable prices, but this year, the decline is unprecedented,” said Rajesh Datta, a vegetable trader in Dharmanagar. Buyers are thrilled with the affordability, but for farmers, the story is one of financial struggle.
Currently, cauliflower is being sold at an astonishingly low price of Rs 10 per piece, a stark contrast to the Rs 250-Rs300 per kilo it commanded during autumn. Cabbage prices have also plummeted to Rs 10-Rs 15 per piece from Rs 90-Rs 100 per kilo during summer. Similarly, brinjal, which was sold at Rs 80-Rs 90 per kilo just a few months ago, now costs Rs 10 per kilo. Tomatoes, once Rs 80-Rs 100 per kilo, are now priced at Rs 20, while beans, which reached Rs 300 per kilo during the off-season, are now available at Rs 15.
“This is a blessing for us. I can finally buy fresh vegetables without worrying about my budget. My family is eating better, and I am saving money,” said Rekha Sharma, a homemaker in Dharmanagar.
However, for farmers like Gobinda Malakar and Nibaran Debnath, this drastic fall in prices has been devastating. “We have worked tirelessly to produce quality vegetables, but the market prices are so low that we can’t even cover our costs,” lamented Malakar.
The abundance of locally produced vegetables, coupled with reduced imports from states like Meghalaya, Assam, and West Bengal, has caused the market to be oversupplied, pushing prices to rock-bottom levels. “The supply is overwhelming, and the demand is not matching up,” explained wholesale trader Ravi Kumar.
As the 13th day of the winter month of ‘Magh’ (month in Bengali Calendar), the markets remain flooded with affordable vegetables. While buyers celebrate this seasonal windfall, the plight of farmers serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by those who work tirelessly to feed the nation.
“Low prices may bring smiles to customers, but they are tears for us. We need better systems to ensure fair prices for everyone,” said farmer Apu Saha.
