Chennai's Koyambedu Market Sees Price Swings for Pongal Vegetables
High supply at Chennai's Koyambedu wholesale market has kept prices of many winter vegetables and legumes in check. This includes carrots, beans, capsicum, field beans, double beans, and butter beans. However, some items saw sharp price increases just before the Pongal festival.
Sugarcane Prices Drop While Some Vegetables Surge
On Wednesday, a day before Pongal, sugarcane wholesale prices dropped significantly. The price fell 25% to 450 rupees for 18 stalks, down from 600 rupees on Tuesday. Individual sugarcane stalks sold for 40 to 60 rupees each, depending on quality.
Meanwhile, prices for some winter produce rose dramatically. Fresh green peas jumped to 40-45 rupees per kilogram in wholesale, up from 28-35 rupees on Tuesday. Field beans, known locally as mochai, hit 50 rupees from 30 rupees.
Retail prices for fresh green peas and field beans ranged between 40 and 90 rupees, varying with quality. Retailer Sathish R from Saligramam explained the situation. "We get premium-quality produce now as it is peak season. Skinned peas and beans are nearly double the cost," he said.
Supply Patterns and Price Predictions
Vendors expect fresh peas and lima bean prices to ease after Pongal due to consistent supply. For nearly a week, the market received about 12 truckloads of green peas daily from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. This is up from the usual 7-10 trucks.
On Tuesday, wholesale pea prices opened at 35 rupees per kilogram at 1 AM. They fell to 28 rupees by 6 AM. Unsold stock sold at 25 rupees until about 10 AM. Field beans from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh opened at 30 rupees at 1 AM on Tuesday and closed at 15 rupees.
Wednesday brought a different story. The surge in Pongal demand pushed wholesale prices of peas to 40 rupees and field beans to 50 rupees. More trucks arrived at the market. "There was not much left with most vendors after peak-hour sales," said S Rammohan, head of NRC Agro, a Koyambedu wholesaler. "We expect steady supply after Pongal, so prices will also stabilise," he added.
Retail Dynamics and Other Produce
Interestingly, retail prices for fresh peas and field beans were lower than wholesale prices on Wednesday in some shops. Vendors cleared old stock to make room for fresh arrivals.
Capsicum supply increased significantly. Varieties arrived from Chhattisgarh, Krishnagiri, Kolar, and Hosur. A 30-kilogram box sells for 800 rupees in wholesale. Retail prices stand at 35 rupees per kilogram.
Rammohan explained the retail pricing strategy for capsicum. "Retail prices stay low as shelf life shortens by the time vegetables reach shops. It takes four days from the time of harvest for the vegetables to reach us. They look fragile, and we tell retailers they will not last more than a day or two," he said.
The market saw quick sales of several other legumes. Fresh pigeon peas, known as thuvarai, sold at 40 rupees per kilogram wholesale. Double beans went for 40 rupees, and butter beans fetched 120 rupees. Sweet potatoes sold for 20 rupees wholesale and 30 rupees retail. Premium beans brought 35 rupees wholesale and 45-50 rupees retail.
