THE prices of green beans, gadra beans, calabash and bindi (okra) have soared in recent weeks, as veggies have become sought after during September and October when Hindus observe Purtassi, Navratri and Pitar Paksh.
The prices have also spiked as a result of the inclement weather that has affected the growing season.
Sharon Rambally, a farmer from Verulam, referred to this fasting period as "our Christmas to make money".
"We depend on the fasting period to recover the losses we incurred over the year. Climate change has also contributed to the high prices. The heavy rains and cold have destroyed our crops and we are not getting the normal growth and quantity of vegetables," said Rambally.
"Staples for fasting like green beans are now R50 per kilogram. It was previously R20. Okra, which was R40 per kg, has doubled to R80; and gadra beans increased from R10 to R18."
Sharon Naicker, another farmer from Verulam, added: "The bad weather has also caused some of our crops to have black frost. This has resulted in a shortage of vegetables like kerala, which now costs between R45 and R50 per kg and calabash is around R30 per kg."
Velliamma Govender, 82, a stall owner at the Bangladesh Market for more than 30 years, said she did not make a profit during the fasting period.
“Some people think we hike the prices because we are greedy, but this is not the case. My supplier told me the increases in vegetables in general is due to bad weather and the drought, which affected certain crops. There have also been increases in the prices of brinjal, chillies, garlic and peppers.
"While there is an increase, I sell the vegetables at the same price that I had before the fast. This is to keep my customers coming back. I sometimes make a profit of R100 or R200 a day.”
She said she would not "give up" due to the high prices.
"I have to wait until I am able to make a profit to cover up for my losses."
Another stall owner, Bobby Naidoo, 59, said: “I buy in bulk, so I do not feel the increase too much. Due to climate change, the price of madumbis had increased from R35 to R40 per kg. We are told the increases are due to the bad weather and no rain, so we just have to wait until these conditions improve."
Brothers, Terrence and Darren Padayachee, whose father, Bala, had a stall at market for more than 40 years, added that serm increased by 42%, from R35 per kg to R50 per kg.
"We have a farm in Silverglen, where we harvested our own marigolds, sour herbs and chillies, so we can still afford to give the customers some value for money on these items. But we are running a loss on the vegetables that have increased in prices. Even for the vegetables we farm, the cost of fertiliser, seeds and water is always increasing, so we would have to also increase our prices when those prices increase,” said the brothers.
Chatsworth resident, Delanie Shezi, who operates a fruit and vegetable stall at a shopping centre in Croftdene, said some vegetables did not survive the harsh weather, but suppliers also knew that people were fasting so they increased the prices a week before the fast began.
“Last week, I paid R50 per kilo for green beans. This week I paid R55. Cauliflower was R12. This week it is R15 each. Potatoes went from R110 to R170 per pocket and gadra beans increased from R18 to R35 per kilo. Chillies were R19 per kilo a few weeks ago. This week it is R55 per kilo."
Shezi said during most weeks during fast, he did not make a profit.
“We cannot increase our prices much. If we do, people will not buy the vegetables. As it is, people are struggling to pay for their items, and with increases, it is much worse for both the consumer and the seller.
“I normally pay R5 000 for my stock each week. This week, my stock cost me R8 000. At this time, we struggle with business. We hope the prices will come down. Each rand counts for us.
"Suppliers are saying it's due to the weather. I know that for some vegetables, the prices were high due to the weather, but for others, there is definitely a greed factor that is at play. But I do not have a choice. I had to buy the products for my business, and at the end of the day, it is us, the stall owners, who are suffering the brunt of it and not the suppliers,” he said.