Vegetable prices to remain high until June due to above-normal temperature in India

India is experiencing high vegetable prices, which is expected to persist until June due to above-normal temperatures. Despite efforts to address the issue through creating buffer stocks and importing vegetables, the perishable nature of vegetables and lack of adequate infrastructure such as cold storage facilities limit the effectiveness of these solutions. Extreme weather conditions like heat waves, flooding, and storms, due to climate change, are increasing risks to vegetable production and prices. In fiscal 2024, India witnessed significant fluctuations in vegetable inflation, with vegetables contributing about 30% to food inflation, a significant increase from their 15.5% share in the food index. The Indian Meteorological Department has forecasted an above-normal southwest monsoon this year, but the distribution of rainfall is uncertain. Stakeholders are urged to prioritize resilience-building measures in the agricultural sector, such as addressing infrastructure gaps and implementing sustainable farming practices, to mitigate the impact of climate variability on vegetable production and prices.