Monsoon Mayhem: Vegetable Prices Soar Across India

In August 2025, the monsoon season in India has once again brought a sharp increase in vegetable prices, leaving consumers like Reena Rai from Varanasi struggling to manage their household budgets. Rai, who has been shopping at the Chandua Satti vegetable market for over two decades, has noticed this pattern every year - vegetable prices shoot up during the monsoon months.

The price hikes are not limited to Varanasi; across India, millions of people are feeling the pinch. Sponge gourd, which was priced at Rs 30 per kg before the monsoon, has now skyrocketed to Rs 70 per kg, while tomatoes have gone up from Rs 40 to Rs 80 per kg. In Delhi, tomatoes are selling for a staggering Rs 90-100 per kilo.

The reasons behind this annual surge are multifaceted. Heavy rainfall, flooding, and wind have damaged crops in key vegetable-producing regions like the Indo-Gangetic plain, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, leading to reduced yields. Additionally, transportation and supply chain disruptions caused by the monsoon rains have exacerbated the situation, with spoilage rates increasing and market availability dropping.

Experts suggest that strengthening transportation networks, implementing climate-resilient farming practices, and improving storage and logistics systems could help mitigate the impact of the monsoon on vegetable prices in the long run. Until then, consumers like Rai will have to brace for the annual "monsoon mayhem" that drains their kitchen budgets.