AGARTALA, October 12 (TIWN): A visit to the vegetable market is proving to be an expensive affair. With the prices soaring to an unprecedented high, a humble cucumber or even potatoes are sure to burn a hole in the pocket.

While green peas cost Rs 150 per kg, beans are priced at Rs 120 a kilo. Even lowly cucumbers are selling at Rs 100 per kg, while coriander leaves (dhania) are coming for Rs 90 a mere bundle. For tomatoes and lady's fingers, one has to shell out more than Rs 120 per kg and for brinjals, potatoes and tomatoes, it is Rs 80 per kg, Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg and Rs 120 per kg, a rate much higher than people would like to pay. 

Rabi Das who sells vegetables at both wholesale and retail rates in M.G. Bazar said, "I have been in this business for the last 15 years, but I have never seen prices skyrocket like this. Even to buy a small bundle of spinach, the buyer has to spend Rs 30.'' Over the past one month, there has been a mark-up of 30% on an average. Cauliflower and cabbage prices are touching the sky, he added. 

Till last month, Rs 1000 were enough for Susmita Roy, a housewife, to buy a week's quota of vegetables for her family of four. But now she does not get enough to last for three days. The skyrocketing prices of vegetables have come as yet another blow for the people already reeling under high inflation rate, mainly due to hike in the prices of the food grains. However, what has left people puzzled is the difference between the wholesaler and retailer prices.

"Earlier, Rs 100-150 was enough to spend at a sabzi market. But today even with Rs 300- 400 in hand you will not be able to buy same quantity of vegetables," said Rupa Kar, a housewife, shopping at Battala sabzi market. Priyanka, a college student, who had come to buy vegetables at Durga chowhumani, said that the surprising part is that even the seasonal vegetables were costly.