Profits have dived as prices of veggies skyrocket
The business of roadside eateries has been adversely affected by the rise in prices of vegetables and pulses after unseasonal rain destroyed crops.
Raju Rajanna, owner of Kolimani Family Restaurant, near the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, informed The Observer the prices of the vegetables and pulses have increased by 20 per cent. He now spends more to buy vegetables, lowering his profit.
“Previously, there was a 40 per cent profit; now it has gone down to 5 per cent,” said Rajanna, who buys onions, capsicum, chillies, coriander leaves and garlic. Onions, which previously cost Rs 25 a kg, now cost Rs 30 to Rs 45. Previously, a kilo of dal used to cost Rs 80; now it is Rs 120.
Krishnadeva Yadav, the owner of a small eatery on the highway, shared that ever since the unseasonal rainfall, the prices of all vegetables have increased. However, prices in his eatery remain the same. “Previously, a samosa used to cost Rs 15, and it still costs the same.”
Yadav has to buy 10 kg of potatoes daily. A kilo of potatoes which previously used to cost Rs 25, is now being sold for Rs 45. The price rise has affected his daily earnings. “Previously I used to earn Rs 500 daily, but now I earn Rs 150 to Rs 300.”
Syed Sajid, who along with his brother runs Hotel Hajes Saheb near the highway, said their profit has decreased by 40 per cent due to the price rise. They buy onions, tomatoes, garlic and ginger from markets in Ramanagar as local vendors charge more. “In local areas, we getting a kilo of tomato for Rs 50, but in markets we get it for Rs 30,” he added.
Saroja TM, a vegetable vendor from Kumbalgodu, said she buys vegetables worth Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 from vegetable markets in Ramanagar every day. She sells 5 kg of vegetables each day. Ever since the prices of vegetables have increased due to unseasonal rain, she has been forced to buy these vegetables at higher prices, forcing her to charge her customers more. She sells chillies for Rs 80 a kg, coriander for Rs 20, and onions and potatoes for Rs 50 a kg — double of the price before.
Mansur, a diner at one of the eateries, said he is not ready to pay more if the restaurant increases prices.
The small roadside eateries will continue to make meager profits as long as the prices of vegetables and pulses keep on rising.
ahona.r@iijnm.org
