Farmers fear losses

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 20

Apple and vegetable growers have been hit hard by the indefinite strike of truckers across the country.

They feared that they would suffer huge losses if the strike was not called off in the next two days, as ripened fruits in the low altitude areas would start rotting.

Not only this, arrival of apple and vegetables in the state, Chandigarh and Delhi markets dropped by over 50 per cent, revealed farmers and commission agents.

The prices of fruits tumbled by 20 per cent as a few whole sellers arrived in mandis to buy the fruit due to the strike.

Some trucks loaded with fruits and vegetables from the state remained stranded on highways near Chandigarh. The farmers feared that the fruits and vegetables would rot in cartons due to humid weather conditions.

Local truck operators had no option but to park their trucks as they were not allowed to go beyond Chandigarh. “Fruits are ripening in stores and we cannot transport them due to the strike of the truck operators against the Centre’s refusal to accept their demands,” said Prakshit, a farmer from Churag in Mandi.

“The arrival of fruits from Himachal Pradesh has dropped significantly in Delhi in the last two days,” said Deepak Dhawan, president, Azadpur Arhtiyas Association.

The farmers urged Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to take up the matter with the Centre to resolve the issue at the earliest.