Despite several preventive measures undertaken by relevant authorities, prices of vegetables in Jeddah have soared since Ramadan began. Inspection teams from the Ministry of Commerce and Jeddah Municipality have taken steps to stabilize the prices in vegetable markets here, but sellers in most of the markets have arbitrarily been raising the prices. Saudi Gazette visited vegetable markets twice, on Ramadan 3 and Ramadan 13 and found out a steep increase in the prices in such a short time. Shopkeepers say prices have increased because of the increase in demand A 12-kg zucchini box is now being sold for SR95 as against SR65 in the first three days of Ramadan. Similarly, five bunches of parsley was being sold at SR5 initially. There has been eight-fold increase in the prices now as the same is being sold for SR40. “The prices of all the vegetables have doubled and tripled,” said Arsha Ilias, a Bangladeshi seller. Prices are determined by mostly expatriate sellers, he said. “We control the market and increase the prices gradually. The customer is forced to buy the products even if prices are high.
