Prices of veggies rise, retailers blame strike

TRADERS AT APMC MARKETS IN NAVI MUMBAI, HOWEVER, SAID VEGETABLE PRODUCE HAS BEEN ARRIVING AS USUAL AND PRICE FLUCTUATIONS WERE REGULAR

NAVI MUMBAI: Even though the nationwide farmers’ strike spread in Maharashtra, it had little effect on wholesale market prices. Retailers, however, have increased their prices claiming they have been procuring vegetables at higher rates owing to the strike.

Traders at the wholesale APMC market in Navi Mumbai claim vegetable produce has been arriving as usual and the market is stable. Price fluctuations if any are because of regular market conditions. Dattatrey Lokhande, 60, a vegetable wholesaler said, “The strike did not affect the wholesale market. Though there is a shortage of arrivals from Nashik market as it is shut, it has been compensated by arrivals from other parts of the state.” He said 510 vehicles of vegetables arrived in the market on Friday, and that number increased to around 570 on Saturday.

Retailers, however, have a different story to tell. Pradip Kumar, 27, a retailer at the MAFCO market in Turbhe said,“the arrivals have reduced considerably. We have to purchase vegetables at a higher rate and have had to hike our prices by 25%. Most vegetables that cost ₹40/kg before the strike are now selling at around ₹60/kg.

A retailer questioned why the media was so interested in this matter.

“This is the time we (retailers) can make some extra profit.” Meanwhile, buyers were clearly unhappy. “How do we manage our household? The government needs to act fast,” said Maya Kakde, a resident of Navi Mumbai. G MOHIUDDIN JEDDY