Rocketing prices of fruits and vegetables have forced 55% of middle-class and low-income group households in the country to switch to processed food to keep the kitchen budget intact, says a survey.

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) conducted a survey across the country, interviewing about 5,000 people on the impact of price hike of fruits and vegetables. The survey report, ‘Rising prices of fruits and vegetables’, brought out the fact that many middle-class families have resorted to tomato puree and ketchup as tomatoes are getting costlier, with a kilogram commanding Rs60-Rs80 in Delhi.

Releasing the survey report, Assocham’s general secretary DS Rawat said the sudden increases of vegetables prices have seriously hit the common man, especially in the metro cities. Now, they are avoiding fresh fruits and vegetables and resorting to packaged food—canned/dried processed food, frozen processed food, meal replacement products and condiments. One spends less on buying a litre of fruit juice than a kilo of fresh fruits. Packed fruit juices appeared to be a better option for them.

The report says the relatively affordable tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, lady finger and potatoes (basic ingredients in most Indian meals) are moving away from the middle-class family reach as prices continue to soar, adds the paper.

And when people do buy vegetables, they choose to buy in bulk instead of buying small quantities of fresh vegetables every few days, as buying in bulk costs them less.

The prices of most of the widely consumed vegetables have shot up during the last two weeks in most parts of the country with the early onset of monsoon. The report states that the fear of bad monsoon has suddenly hiked the vegetables’ and fruits’ prices threefold from the farm to one’s dining table. Rawat said the upward spiral of the price has caused great dissatisfaction to the common man.

Consequently, about 82% of lower middle class families have been forced to squeeze their budgets for vegetables. About 87% respondents said they do not even consider buying seasonal or exotic fruits as staple items like potato, tomato and onions alone have gone out of the common man’s reach. Owing to the high cost, many middle-class families are making do with lower quantity of these items in their daily diet.

Assocham Social Development Foundation conducted the survey in major places like Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh and Dehradun.

Paying through their noseIn some metros in the country, common vegetables cost a bomb these days.Tomato : Rs60-80/kgLady finger : Rs50/kgBrinjal : Rs40/kgCapsicum : Rs80/kg