Rising fuel rates in Punjab push vegetable prices up in Chandigarh

The price of diesel shooting up to over ₹90 per litre in Punjab has made vegetables costlier and also impacted their supply.

“The increasing price of fuel has hit farmers hard. Earlier only those who travelled from far away were affected but now even local farmers, who drive their produce into Chandigarh from nearby villages, are charging more. The supply of vegetables coming into the mandis has also started to dwindle,” said Satbir Singh, mandi supervisor with Punjab Mandi Board.

Singh said a rise in the prices of vegetables like potatoes and tomatoes can be attributed to large distances, however it was concerning that even prices of bottle gourd and pumpkin were increasing.