Chandigarh, June 4: Retail prices of vegetables shot up at the fruit and market in Sector 26 as the farmers’ agitation entered the third day on Sunday.
The rates of all vegetables except onion have increased by 30 to 40 per cent after the agitating farmers stopped supplies as part of their nationwide stir. Tomatoes, which were available at Rs 10 a kg earlier, are now being sold for Rs 20 to Rs 25 a kg. The rates of potatoes have increased from Rs 10 a kg to Rs 20 to Rs 25 a kg. Ladyfinger is available at Rs 40 to Rs 50 a kg, which was being sold at Rs 30 a kg last week. The prices of cucumber, peas and bottle gourd have also increased by around 30 per cent. Bitter gourd, which was earlier available at Rs 20 a kg, was being sold at Rs 40 to Rs 50 a kg on Sunday.
A vendor said there was a shortage of vegetables in the market due to which the rates had increased. Several farmers’ organisations have jointly called a 10-day protest across the country demanding remunerative prices for their produce. Traders said fresh supplies of vegetables had dwindled, triggering fears of further price hike in the coming days.
Retailers blame it on shortage, but records show arrivals up. While retailers claimed that the prices had increased due to a shortage of vegetables, the records of the Market Committee present a different picture. The prices have increased despite the fact that the arrivals have also increased.
On June 1, 514 quintals of tomatoes had arrived in the mandi, while on June 3, the figure went up to 1,241 quintals. Manoj Kumar Sharma, secretary of the Market Committee, said the prices of vegetables had increased in the retail market due to panic.
Sourced from The Tribune
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