Farmers hold ground, veggie prices up

Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai APMC on Friday reported a 40 per cent dip in produce in the wake of local farmers discontinuing their supply of vegetables.

Only two onion trucks came to the APMC market in Vashi on Friday due to the strike in Nashik though the price of the commodity remained unchanged at Rs 20 per kg. Consumers have started feeling the pinch and there are fears that prices would go up further.

Prices of vegetables have increased as compared to Thursday, but vegetables like brinjal and green peas were largely unaffected. Also, vegetables markets at Wadala, King’s Circle, Matunga and Vashi wore an empty look on Friday.

“I am unable to sell vegetables today as the usual crowd of consumers is missing. Beans, which I had sold for Rs 60 per kilo yesterday, are now priced at Rs 100 per kg while ladyfingers, which were priced at Rs 50 per kg till yesterday, are now Rs 80,” Raju Vaishya, a vegetable vendor at Matunga, said.

The prices of green chillies and cabbages have gone up. “Everybody knows that the farmers’ strike would affect the prices of vegetables, but consumers aren’t ready to accept these prices and. I sold green chillies at the rate of Rs 100 per kg on Thursday, which now I am selling for Rs 200. The rates of cabbages, cauliflower and spinach has doubled today,” Sunil Sonawane, a Wadala-based vegetable vendor, said.

Helpless consumers had no choice but to buy vegetables at hiked rates. “I want to cook food for my family daily. I have bought vegetables, which I can use for four to five days. If prices do not come down, I will be forced to buy fewer of them,” said Laxmi Iyer, a buyer, at Matunga.

Many buyers were surprised on learning that the prices had gone up in a day. “I don’t believe that prices have gone up today. The retailers are waiting for the opportunity,” Wadala housewife Anahita Gandhi said.

Fewer trucks came to the APMC on Friday. “We saw 429 fruit trucks on Thursday and 277 on Friday. Also, on Thursday 463 vegetable trucks came by while only 182 trucks did so today,” Shivaji Pahinkar, secretary, APMC market, said.