Prices ease for now, likely to skyrocket as farmers call Maharashtra bandh today
The impact of the farmers’ strike in Maharashtra on prices of vegetable is fading as normal rates have slowly come in place. However, vendors of the Janta Market at Dadar had to shut shop for two-hours before their usual closing time due to short supply on Sunday.
Farmers had conducted a two-day strike before reaching an agreement with the government and had affected the vegetable markets across Mumbai with a surge in prices of vegetables. Denizens had shelled out more to keep their kitchens running with tomato for Rs 100 a kilo, beans at Rs 80 kg per kg and brinjal also around the same rate. Many who had to buy flowers for several occasions like birthdays and funerals also had to spend more.
A fact check on Sunday by the Free Press Journal found a dip with tomato priced at Rs 25-Rs30 per kg, cauliflower at Rs 30 per kg, beans and brinjals at Rs 60 per kg each.
Several vendors expressed displeasure over the sudden increase in vegetable rates as the strike has not only affected their profits but also impacted their supply. They said the vegetable rates might increase if the strike continues.
“The surge in vegetable rates has affected our daily sales. We close down the market by 2-3pm on Sundays; however, today we had to close at 12pm due to limited supply,” Rameshwar Gupta, a vendor at the Janta Market, said.
While a section of the farmers continuing with their strike and declared a statewide strike and a bandh on Sunday, experts say the markets of the city will be least affected as the stir left out Mumbai.
Sanjay Pansare, former director of APMC market at Vashi, said, “The statewide strike will not affect markets in Mumbai. Comparatively, the market was stable on Sunday. The prices of vegetables on Saturday had shot up at unbelievable rates; however, the rates came down on Sunday. Despite the ongoing strike, the APMC market on Sunday received adequate amount of supply.”
Even as citizens are facing difficulties due to the surge in vegetable rates, some say it is time the government should address the farmers’ issues.
“The vegetable prices are unbelievable but the strike is important as their demands, once fulfilled, will bring a major respite to farmers across the state. If we could bear the hassle during demonetisation which resulted in nothing, we can surely bear these surge prices for farmers who are living in utter poverty,” Anita Tiwari, a Chembur resident, said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the government will waive loans of farmers with small land-holdings, and 80 per cent of such farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada will benefit.
In Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad markets, vendors received 81% supply of vegetables and fruits. “Today 81% of regular arrival reached the Pune APMC. 931 vehicles brought 35000 quintals of vegetables and fruits to the market. Rates are 5-10% higher than that of regular. By Monday, arrival will be 100%,” Dilip Khaire, chairman, Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Pune, said.
Meanwhile, striking farmers in Nashik called for a Maharashtra bandh on Monday after conducting a core-committee meeting of their association spearheading the stir. Thousands of affiliated organizations attended the meeting held at the Nashik APMC auction hall on Sunday evening. The meeting observed a shradhanjali programme for farmer Ashok More, who died of heart attack while fleeing from police after a road protest in Ahmednagar on 2 June.
Earlier the strike involved only agriculture produce which caused a severe shortage of essential commodities like milk, vegetables and fruits. Monday’s bandh is likely to cripple supplies of other essential commodities like food grains, bakery and other food products throughout the state, including Mumbai, which depend on districts.