The price of locally produced green vegetables being sold in Salcete, South Goa has soared as the festive season approaches, completely upending the budget of middle-class family.
While the majority of vegetables, including leafy greens and herbs, are often transported into Goa from nearby Karnataka and even from rural areas of Maharashtra, the availability of produce is frequently affected during the monsoon season, leading to a significant increase in price. The neighborhood farmers who grow these crops on tiny plots often come to rescue during these months.
The gaunti veggies are now more pricey than ever this year. Due to the rainfall, there is also a low supply of green vegetables from outside Goa, and it is becoming more difficult to manage the family budget while also making sure that the kids receive nutrition and fiber they need from these iron-rich veggies. According to Margao resident Panduram Naik, "Fruits are becoming more pricey as well as the financial situation of those with low and moderate incomes are affected”.
Vegetables like ladyfingers are typically grown by Salcete farmers. Brinjal, chillies, long beans, cluster beans, radish, cucumber, and the well-known tambdi bhaji are among the different foods that can be found in Dicarpale, Fatorda, Nuvem, Agalli, Mungul, and other locations.
Five to seven pieces of radish cost around Rs 30 in the Margao market, while bunches of tambdi bhaji cost Rs 20 to Rs 25 apiece. Rs 100 will get you 20 extra-large ladyfingers. Long beans typically cost approximately Rs 60 per bunch, whereas cluster beans are priced around Rs 50 per part.
Locally produced vegetable costs vary from place to place, according to Borda vegetable trader Maria Rocha. The same amount of veggies are more expensive at Margao's main market than they are in our roadside stands, she said.
Maria said that the growing season for local green vegetables is almost finished and defended the high prices by pointing to supply and demand imbalances. For many months to come, no one will be able to bring a lot of green vegetables. “My family does not engage in large-scale farming; instead, we raise seasonal green vegetables and fruits for our own use. Our farm is modest one, and we don't use chemical fertilizers. We use conventional mixed cropping”.
The season of religious festivities, which culminates in the New Year, runs from August through December, according to Concessao Pereira, a vegetable seller from Gogol.
