Veggie prices begin to spiral out of control

Maharashtra grappled with shortages of daily essentials such as milk, fresh fruits and vegetables and grains on Friday as farmers continued their strike for a second day. Spiralling prices of essentials made the situation worse.

In Nashik, incidents of violence were reported from some areas. Markets remained shut in the districts hitting supplies to the cities. The farmers are agitating under the aegis of Kisan Kranti Morcha (KKM).

Groups of farmers came out in hundreds and blocked milk tankers and vegetable trucks in several districts.

In Lasalgaon (Nasik district), which is Asia’s largest onion market, protesters threw stones at a police jeep, damaging its windshield. Agitators dumped onions, chillies, mangoes and tomatoes on the road. The weekly markets at 82 places in the district remained closed. A tanker was stopped at Sayyed Pimpri village off Mumbai-Agra Highway in Nasik tehsil and milk flushed out. A truck loaded with onions was stopped at Jalgaon Neur village in Dindori tehsil. All 19 APMCs in Nasik district remained closed on Friday as no farmer arrived with any produce. No vegetables or grains could be loaded in trucks.

Social activist Anna Hazare extended his support to the farmers and expressed his desire to mediate between the state government and the growers. However, his effort was junked by farmers. “We do not need any intermediary, we can speak directly to the government,” a farmer said.

Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot admitted that barely 125 of the around 1,200 trucks of farm goods reached Mumbai.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut criticised CM Fadnavis demanding that the government should take action instead of indulging in criticism.