After pulses, the prices of vegetables and fruits have also skyrocketed by 40-45 per cent, particularly in metros and major cities, says a paper by industry chamber, Assocham, adding that more and more families are switching over to pre-cooked and ready-to-eat food items to cut down household expenses.

About 78 per cent of the female respondents covered in the survey by Assocham Social Development Foundation said efforts to keep the kitchen budget intact had failed and most of them had switched over to pre-cooked and ready-to-eat food items to cut down on expenses.

The survey​, released on Thursday, found that low-income households, for whom pulses are already out of reach, had cut the amount of nutrients (vegetables and fruits) by 25-30 per cent because they can no longer afford them.

While 87 per cent of the respondents said rising food prices had made their life tougher, 66 per cent felt that vegetables at current prices were “not even an option” for a family of six where the monthly salary is Rs 10,000-15,000.

The survey, conducted from April to May 2015, covered over 1,000 housewives and 1,000 employees spread across major cities.

Mango, the king of Indian fruits, is selling at Rs 100 a kg in the retail market, while the premium Alphonso costs Rs 200-400 a dozen, due to unseasonal rains that resulted in a production loss of up to 50 per cent in some States, says the paper.

Bananas, which used to sell at Rs 30-40 a dozen last year, are retailing at Rs 60-65 a dozen. Apples, too, are selling at double the price of last year. Grapes are going at around Rs 120 a kg.

Over 92 per cent respondents said they had forgotten the taste of the season's exotic fruits due to the price spike.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW