BANGALORE, May 28: Vegetables prices in this garden city have been spiralling upward for the past one month, so much so that a quarter of a kilogram of most vegetables now costs more than a whole kilogram did earlier. Against the average Rs 10 quoted for a kg of the common vegetables last year, the price ranges around Rs 20 now. Last week, a kg of beans touched Rs 50-Rs 60 while peas were selling for Rs 63 a kg and tomatoes Rs 16-Rs 17. Last year, tomatoes were selling at around Rs 5 at this time. Horticultural department officials said the high temperatures prevailing in the cultivation areas had affected production, leading to a short-supply, which, in turn, had sent prices up. Added to this was the vagaries of power supply and the fact that large tracts of agricultural land is now being used for other purposes.
