Onset of winters: Fruit prices soar while that of vegetables plunge

Gurdeep Singh Mann

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 7

With the onset of winters, the prices of fruit are rising in the city while the vegetables prices have reduced to some extent.

Retailers, wholesale dealers and vegetable growers have different opinions on the reason behind the price variation, but most of them believe that it is not due to demonetisation.

They say the overall production of green vegetables increases with the onset of winters.

“People seen standing in queues outside ATMs want money not to buy luxury items but to purchase the basic food items. The demand for fruit has reduced to some extent, but there is no change in the demand or supply for vegetables,” said Bheem Chand Sonu, president, Arthiya Association, Sabzi Mandi.

He said, “The cost of vegetables is varying and it also depends on quality.”

According to the president of the Arthiya Association, Sabzi Mandi, potatoes in the wholesale market are being sold for Rs 5.50 to Rs 6 per kg and aged ones for Rs 1.50 to Rs 2 per kg.

Onions of Gujrat are being sold for Rs 7 to Rs 9 per kg while that of Maharashtra are being sold for Rs 10 to Rs 11 per kg.

Cauliflower is being sold for Rs 2 to Rs 4 per kg, capsicum Rs 10 to Rs 16 per kg, carrot Rs 6 to Rs 11 per kg, peas Rs 17 to Rs 21 kg per kg, tomatoes Rs 8 to Rs 11 per kg and garlic Rs 50 to Rs 70 per kg.

“We have no other problem except transportation from far off places. Truck drivers are in a fix since November 8 over getting cash for fare or not,” Sonu said.

He said there was hardly any affect of demonetisation on the sale of vegetables, but there was definitely a decline in the sale of fruit.

Ghanaiya Lal, who has taken fruit ripening chamber on contract in the vegetable market, said, “The flow of tractor-trailers has reduced to a great extent but this is normal and happens every year on the onset of winter.”

He said, “I sold 100 bananas for Rs 300 to Rs 350. During Diwali, the rate was Rs 250, Rs 350 and Rs 380, depending upon the size of the bananas. Trucks carry banana from Behrampur, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The most economical bananas are of Gujarat due to their less transportation cost. A fare of a truck from Gujarat is between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000. The same truck from Behrampur charges Rs 55,000 and from Andhra Pradesh it chargers Rs 80,000. These trucks reach Bathinda from Gujarat on the second or third day while from Andhra Pradesh, they reach on the fifth day. Earlier, we used to call trucks on every second or third day, but now, we order fruit just once in a week.”

Naveen Arora, president, Fruit Market Association, said, “The wholesale price of Kashmiri apples is Rs 65 to Rs 75 per kg, Kinnaur apples for Rs 75 to Rs 100, guava for Rs 30 per kg, oranges for Rs 40 to Rs 45 and kinnow for Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg.”

Jagtar Brar, a vegetable grower from Goniana Mandi, said the cost of vegetables was reduced due to increased supply.