Peas soar to Rs 160/kg in Punjab, Haryana

After onion and tomato, it is the turn of peas to pinch the common man, with prices of the kitchen staple touching an all-time high of Rs 160 per kg in Punjab and Haryana.

“The prices of peas have soared. Until a few days back, peas were selling between Rs 90 and Rs 100 per kg,” a trader said.

Many retailers in the two states and in Chandigarh are reporting a sudden demand surge for the frozen variety of peas. “We are facing shortage of some of the popular frozen varieties as demand has spiralled,” a retailer said on Wednesday. He said frozen varieties of peas were available in the market in the range of Rs 130-190 per kg.

Meanwhile, tomato prices continued to remain high at around Rs 60 per kg against Rs 35 per kg in the retail markets nearly a week back. Traders said prices of other commonly consumed vegetables were also high in comparison to their normal rates. Carrot is selling between Rs 40 and Rs 50 per kg while beans are available for around Rs 70 per kg.

However, onion prices have fallen slightly, from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 40 now. Potato prices, too, have started to soften, from Rs 25 per kg earlier to Rs 15 now, as the local produce of the crop has started arriving in the markets.

Traders point out that prices of most vegetables are likely to stabilise from next month when more supplies will reach the markets.