Eight sabzi mandis opened in Shimla

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 30

The Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) opened eight sabzi mandis in the district today, saving the produce of peas, cauliflower, broccoli, coriander and spinach of farmers from rotting in their fields.

Fresh high quality peas, which used to fetch Rs 60 per kg during normal time, was sold at prices ranging from Rs 25 a kg to Rs 29 a kg in the sabzi mandis. Farmers sold cauliflower and broccoli, which are the main cash crops of the ‘Gobhi belt of Theog’, for Rs 5 to Rs 8 per kg in the mandis.

Most of the peas, cauliflower and broccoli sold in the local markets are exported to other states.

District Magistrate Amit Kashyap fixed the prices of peas and cauliflower at Rs 32 to Rs 36 a kg and Rs 15 to Rs 19 a kg but still complaints were posted on the Facebook page of the district administration that vendors were selling these items for more than the listed prices. Besides, Kashyap fixed the prices of 27 other essential commodities.

“The opening of Parala and Bhattakufar apple mandis for vegetables have come as a relief for farmers and helped decongest Dhalli and Theog mandis,” said PK Chauhan, a farmer from Kshaur village.