Saturday, 13 APRIL 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The steep rise in the prices of fruits by an average of 10 to 15 per cent in the city has affected the festive mood of many, particularly those who are fasting during Navratri. Many street vendors selling fruits have claimed that prices of fruits tend to go up as soon as Navratri approaches. They claimed that bananas which were earlier sold at Rs 30 per dozen now cost Rs 50 per dozen, while the price of apples has risen to Rs 150 per kilogramme from Rs 100 per kilogramme. In light of this, the secretary of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Vijay Thapliyal has assured that fruit prices will decrease by the end of April.
Expressing her concern over the prices of fruits, a customer Veena Bisht said that during Navratri, people who fast consume mainly fruits. However, this year, the prices of fruits have increased, causing concern among the residents of the city. Normally, they used to purchase fruits in large quantities during Navratri but this year they are buying in less, she said.
Fruit seller Raju Shankar stated that the prices of fruits have increased with the start of Navratri. During Navratri, the demand for fruits goes up, which is the main reason for the hike in prices. He claimed that he has been selling oranges at his stall for the last two months. Earlier, the price of oranges was Rs 80 per kilogramme, which has now gone up to Rs 100 per kilogramme during this Navratri.
Thapliyal told this correspondent that the prices of fruits have increased due to Navratri. During Navratri, there is a high demand for fruits in temples, homes and other places, which leads to a direct impact on supply. This imbalance of demand and supply drives up the prices of fruits by an average of 10 per cent. Apart from this, seasonal changes and cultivation also affect the prices of fruits. He added that fruits in summer are in higher demand compared to winter, which increases their prices. However, Thapliyal assured that the prices of fruits will normalise by the end of April.
