Hyderabad: Winter’s here, but the vegetables of the season have become rather overpriced. Favourite winter vegetables like red carrots, peas, French beans and even the very common capsicum, which were available for between Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kg, have now touched Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg. Even the all-season potato is Rs 40 per kg.

The season is good for French cucumber, salad leaves, leafy vegetables and brinjals but these are also priced between Rs 20 and Rs 40 per kg. Jaya Srinivasan, a housewife, said, “This December, instead of prices coming down, they have increased. Tomatoes were sold in November at Rs 20 for 1.5 kg and this month, it’s Rs 30 for only one kg.”

Similarly, green peas are looked forward to in this season. Prachi Shah says, “Winter allows one to buy lots of peas as they are affordable. I peel and pack them in storage bags and refrigerate them for six months. I buy 10 kg and refrigerate them. But this year, the season’s first price of Rs 60 per kg has dampened my spirits.”

Deva Munni Reddy, deputy director of horticulture said, “The problem is that the area of cultivation has remained the same but due to awareness, the consumption has gone up. We are not able to meet the mandatory requirement of 300 gm per day, per person. Apart from this, wastage has not been controlled and so the prices continue to remain high.

“While the farmers gets Rs 8 to Rs 10 per kg for their produce, there are at least five to seven middlemen. If the middleman sets a higher price, the retailers have no option but to add Rs 5 or Rs 10 to the prices of the vegetables,” Azam Khan, a vendor said.