Navi Mumbai News: APMC Sees Sharp Spike In Cluster Beans, Tomato Prices; Leafy Greens Turn Cheaper Amid Rain Disruptions

Wholesale vegetable prices at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) have seen a sharp increase between June 17 and July 4. The latest market report indicates a significant price rise in commonly consumed vegetables such as lady finger (bhindi), tomato, cluster beans (gawar), cauliflower, ivy gourd (tondli), bitter gourd (karli), and coriander.

Among all vegetables, lady finger (Bhendi) registered the highest price increase. The average wholesale rate rose from Rs 35 per kg on June 17 to Rs 75 per kg on July 4, marking a 114% surge in just over two weeks.

Tomato also witnessed a noticeable rise in average price, increasing from Rs 20 to Rs 21 per kg. Though the percentage increase is modest, traders reported a tightening of supply and rising demand, prompting a higher price tag.

Cluster beans (gawar) and flat beans (ghevda) saw their average rates escalate from Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg. This rise, roughly 33%, is attributed to erratic monsoon patterns impacting supply and transport logistics.

Cauliflower (flower) rates climbed from an average of Rs 14 to Rs 20 per kg, reflecting a 43% jump. Bitter gourd (karli) followed closely with a steep increase from Rs 40 to Rs 65 per kg, amounting to a 62% hike.

The price of ivy gourd (tondli) also rose from Rs 33 to Rs 55 per kg, indicating a 66% increase. Even though the supply remained stable, market demand pushed prices upward.

Coriander showed mixed trends. The Pune variety remained relatively stable, but the Nashik variety's average rate dropped from Rs 15.50 to Rs 11 per kg. This fall is attributed to a heavy influx in the market, which stabilized the price despite demand.

On average, vegetables that saw a price rise recorded a 15% to 45% hike compared to their rates two weeks prior. “The increase in prices is being driven by multiple factors including seasonal scarcity, increased urban demand, and transport disruptions caused by monsoon rainfall,” Narendra Shelke, vegetable trader from APMC, said. “The demand has also climbed sharply, especially for daily essentials like bhindi, tomato, and leafy greens. Further, localized rains in several production zones have impacted the smooth transportation of vegetables to Mumbai markets,” another trader said.

Meanwhile, improved weather conditions in production zones such as Nashik and Pune led to a higher yield and faster dispatch of perishable leafy vegetables to the Mumbai market leading to price drop in some of them.

Fenugreek (methi) prices dipped sharply. The average rate dropped from Rs 20 to Rs 11 per kg, reflecting a 45% decrease. “The supply of fenugreek from Nashik nearly tripled in this period, resulting in the decrease in the prices,” Shelke said.

Spinach (palak) from Nashik recorded a drop in average price from Rs 14 to Rs 11 per kg. The arrival volume increased significantly, reaching 1.72 lakh kg on July 4, up from 1.08 lakh kg on June 17. Mint (pudina) prices, though still slightly high, dropped from Rs 4.50 to Rs 8 per kg. Lemon prices too eased, falling from an average of Rs 25 per kg to Rs 17 — a 32% decrease. Traders attributed this to improved harvesting conditions and consistent supply from nearby regions.

Nashik varieties of curry leaves, spring onion, and dill (shepu) also showed slight reductions in average prices, largely due to a rise in volume from local farms.

Overall, the average price drop across these vegetables ranged between 20% and 45%, depending on the variety and supply levels.

“While core vegetables such as tomato, bhindi, and cluster beans have seen price hikes due to rain-related disruptions, the drop in leafy green prices has helped balance the overall market trend to some extent,” Shelke added.