Delayed rains, high-temperature impact vegetable prices in Telangana
According to experts, the rising cost of vegetables in the city is a clear indicator of how climate change is affecting our food systems. Unpredictable weather patterns, heatwaves, and delayed monsoons have all had a negative impact on the yield of various crops in the State, raising the price of vegetables and fruits, they say.
Green chillies were being sold at Erragadda Rythu Bazar on thursday for Rs 75 per kg, while various types of beans were being marketed for Rs 75 to Rs 105 per kg. Tomatoes were priced between Rs 67 and Rs 80 per kilogramme throughout the course of the week. Although the cost of vegetables often rises during this season each year, Shekar Goud, a vegetable trader at Erragadda Rythu Bazar, claimed that this year's prices are considerably higher. The delayed rains have caused the rates to increase during the last 10 days.
According to experts, vegetables are essential for guaranteeing food and nutritional security, but due to their high perishability and the consequences of climate change, they are becoming more and more expensive and hence unaffordable for the poor. In order to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on the yield and quality of vegetable crops, a research titled "Impact of Climate Change on Vegetable Crops and its Mitigation" stressed the need of breeding techniques and biotechnology.
While potatoes may completely lose their ability to develop tubers, tomatoes may endure fewer fruit sets and smaller, lower-quality fruits as a result of high temperatures. According to Manga, a horticulture officer, unexpected temperature rises can adversely influence blooming, pollination, and the development of fruits, ultimately resulting in poorer crop yields. Vegetable crops are particularly sensitive to climatic uncertainties.
Every summer, several vegetables, including tomatoes, brinjal, and chillies, among others, see a blooming decline. However, with the delayed rains, the production of the vegetables is also impacted. "The farmers typically plan the seedling and other farming activities in the hope that the temperatures will be normal in a few weeks," she continued. The officer said that unexpected heavy rains and strong winds often harm crops. High temperatures also have a negative impact on vegetable quality, resulting in a pale look, a decrease in moisture content, and both biological and physiological impacts.