Lucknow: Rainfall in parts of UP and key vegetable-producing states has begun impacting household budgets in Lucknow, with prices of several vegetables rising sharply over the past week due to reduced arrivals in wholesale markets.Traders at Naveen Mandi on Sitapur Road said continuous rain damaged crops and disrupted transportation, leading to lower supplies and higher prices.The impact has been most visible on coriander, whose wholesale price has doubled from around Rs 30 per kg to Rs 60-70 per kg. Ginger has risen from Rs 100 to Rs 150 per kg, while garlic is being sold at Rs 160-180 per kg.Onion prices have also increased, with retail rates touching Rs 40 per kg. Green chilli and cauliflower have become costlier, while potato prices have remained largely stable.Vegetable trader Ashish Sonkar said supplies from outside the district were arriving in smaller quantities due to weather-related disruptions.“Rain has slowed harvesting and transportation, directly affecting prices. Arrivals are likely to improve only after weather conditions normalise,” he said.Vendor Islamuddin said tomato prices had eased slightly because of better local availability, but supplies of onion, garlic, ginger and green chilli remained tight. He added that transportation costs and handling losses during the rainy season had widened the gap between wholesale and retail prices.Consumers said the price rise was straining household budgets.“Vegetables are an essential part of our daily meals. When onion, chilli and coriander become expensive together, monthly food expenses increase significantly,” said Prabhakar Mishra, a customer at the mandi.Another buyer, Chander Rawat of Aliganj, said families were cutting back on purchases and buying only small quantities because of higher prices and the risk of spoilage during the monsoon.Naveen Mandi president Jeetu Sonkar said supplies of ginger, garlic, green chilli, beans and capsicum had been affected the most. He added that prices of locally grown vegetables such as bottle gourd, pumpkin, okra and pointed gourd had seen only marginal changes but could rise further if rains continue.
