Mumbai: The statewide bandh enforced by the farmers' strike barely affected the supply and rates of essential commodities like vegetables and fruits in Mumbai on Monday. In fact, the supply of vegetables and fruits increased with the arrival of large number of trucks at APMC market in Vashi. However, milk supply saw a reduction.
“Monday's farmers strike has not affected the number of trucks. In fact, the number that had gone down has now increased. 466 trucks of vegetables, 317 trucks of fruits, 153 trucks of onion and potato, 108 trucks of spices and 203 trucks of cereals were accounted for on Monday,” said APMC secretary, Shivaji Pahinkar. On Sunday, 300 trucks of vegetables and 282 trucks of fruits had arrived. While the prices of most vegetables in the retail market is between Rs 60 and Rs 80, that of tomato has reduced to Rs 40.
Deputy commissioner of dairy, C.S. Chougule, said, “40 per cent of drop in supply of milk in the state has been noted. Nashik, Ahmednagar and Pune (districts of West-ern Maharashtra) were affected till Sunday. Figures for Monday will be made available on Tuesday morning.
However, since morning we have received one milk tanker in the Worli Dairy as against three tankers that we receive daily.” A vegetable vendor in Matunga confirmed that prices of tomato, coriander and chillies saw a drop on Monday.
Prices of vegetables in the Borivali market were seen high as compared to in Dadar and Matunga. Most vegetables were found to be in the range of Rs 80-100 per kg due to the strike. Prices of fruits are high like on Sunday. A fruit vendor, Anil Kesarwani said that the cost of apple and pear is Rs 180 per kg and for pomegranate is Rs 180 per kg.
