The Kerala government yesterday decided to set up 200 vegetable centers to check soaring prices of vegetables in the state. The centers would function from April 10 for two weeks across the state and a Task Force, comprising Agriculture Production Commissioner and secretaries of Finance, Food and Agriculture, would review the price level in the market.

Prices of vegetables had shot up since last week ahead of the 'Vishu' festival, which falls on April 14, in the state. Cucumber, the favourite vegetable for the festival, is now selling at Rs.46 per kg and tomato Rs.24 per kg.

The Task Force would fix a price for the vegetables to be sold through the government-sponsored vegetable centres, State Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C Divakaran and Agriculture Minister Mullakara Ratnakaran told reporters after a review meeting with top officials here yesterday.

Horticulture Corporation would also procure vegetables from production centres in the state and also from neighbouring states.

On the vegetable traders' argument that price rise was due to crop loss following rains in Tamil Nadu from where the vegetables are transported to Kerala, Divakaran said as per government information there was no such widespread loss of vegetable crop in Tamil Nadu.

The government would also consider providing subsidy to the Horticulture Corporation for market intervention and this matter would be discussed in the next cabinet meeting, Divakaran said.

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