Wholesale vegetable vendors suffer as footfall dips in mandi

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 18

Wholesale fruit and vegetable vendors have been suffering losses due to the coronavirus scare. The number of people visiting the mandi to purchase vegetables and fruits these days has reduced.

The wholesale prices of several vegetables, including onion, tomato, potato, cauliflower and pumpkin, have also dropped significantly.

Manohar Singh, president of the Arhtiyas Association Sabji Mandi, Bathinda, said, “While there is not much effect on the supply, we are finding it really difficult to sell vegetables at market rates as after customers have stopped turning up at the market, retailers are deliberately delaying the procurement process, forcing us to lower the wholesale rates of vegetables. The price of cauliflower has dropped to Rs10 on per kg. Earlier, it was being sold for Rs20 to Rs25. The wholesale prices of tomato, potato, onion, cucumber and pumpkin have also been reduced to clear the stock. There has been approximately 20 per cent dip in our sale.”

The vegetable and fruit market wears a deserted look during peak hours and market committee members have issued directions to disinfect the area and use masks and sanitisers. He said, “Following the coronavirus scare, we are left completely at the mercy of retailers now as customers are more comfortable in buying vegetable and fruits from small shops or street vendors. Retailers are making most of the situation and lifting vegetables only at lowered rates. Vegetable is a perishable item and we cannot possibly store it for a long duration. Retail vendors are minting money by purchasing vegetables at lowered rates. Thereafter, they sell it at market rates.”

Vegetable shopkeepers in the mandi said people were not turning up at the market and to clear the stock of veggies, they were being forced to sell these at low rates.

Meanwhile, market committee members have stepped efforts in the wake of the Covid-19 scare.

Balkar Singh, secretary, Market Committee Bathinda, said, “We have conducted meetings with arhtiyas of the fruit and vegetable market. They have been directed to maintained adequate hygiene standards to keep the virus at bay. We have instructed them to wear masks and use hand sanitisers at every wholesale outlet. They have been asked to provide sanitisers to buyers who come to them at the mandi. We will conduct random inspections and those found not adhering to the directions will be dealt sternly.”

“Certainly, there has been a steep decline in the number of people turning up at the mandi. On an average, earlier more than 4,000 people used to throng the mandi on a daily basis. Now, the number is close to 2,000,” he added.

Sonu, president, Fruit Mandi Association, said, “Both sale and supply of fruits have taken a hit. There is a shortage of grapes, naseberry (chiku), orange and kinnow. Though we have lowered the rates, we are losing our profit margins up to 20 to 25 per cent.”

Earlier, an orange box was being sold for Rs400. Now, its price is Rs300 and even below than that at times. Similarly, the packing of 5 kg of grapes was sold for Rs340 and now, it has come down to Rs250 for a single box. “There is undoubtedly a decline in the sale of fruits. But, people are aware that the intake of fruits will strengthen their immunity,” said Sonu.