Veggie prices soar in Jaipur

Vegetable prices soared in Jaipur on Sunday as the farmers’ agitation entered the third day. Traders said fall in supply at Muhana wholesale mandi in Jaipur led to an increase in prices of vegetables.

Farmers in Rajasthan have been stopping trucks supplying milk and vegetables as part of the 10-day gaon bandh agitation. Farmer leaders have been demanding purchase of the produce at minimum support price (MSP) and implementation of Swaminathan Commission report.

Retail onion prices climbed to Rs 15 per kg from Rs 10 per kg, green chilli prices shot up to Rs 15 per kg from Rs 6 per kg, bitter gourd was being sold at Rs 20 per kg (Rs 12), lady fingers Rs 20 per kg (Rs 15), beans Rs 25 per kg (Rs 15), tomato Rs 15 per kg (Rs 6), and tinda (apple gourd) Rs 30-40 per kg (Rs 20). Milk shortage was also reported from some parts of the city although the situation is not alarming.

“Vegetable supply was down by about 10%. We will not allow hoarding,” Muhana mandi secretary Ashok Garg said.

There were reports of violence at a sabzi mandi in Bikaner on Sunday morning with miscreants creating ruckus on the mandi premises. Minor incidents of scuffle between farmers and traders were also reported from Bikaner and Sriganganagar.

Cooperative dairies were reluctant to procure milk because of the ongoing protest. Jaipur Dairy chairman Om Prakash Punia has written to chief secretary DB Gupta, requesting him to ensure adequate security for milk tankers.

On Saturday, farmers spilled milk on roads in Jaipur rural areas. Kisan Mahapanchayat leader Rampal Jat said, “The idea was to draw the attention of the policy makers to our problems. Farmer associations will hold a massive rally to mark ‘Balram Diwas’ in Tonk near Jaipur on June 13.”

District collector Siddharth Mahajan said, “The administration has been monitoring the situation closely and is in talks with the cooperative federations to ensure that the supply is not disrupted.”

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