Thursday, 07 NOVEMBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The unavailability caused by lack of adequate transportation facilities during the festival season which concludes with Chhath Puja has resulted in a surge in the prices of vegetables and fruits in Dehradun district, the secretary of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Ajay Dabral said.
The spiralling prices have not just displeased the common people who are finding it difficult to purchase vegetables and fruits in the quantity they want. This is also negatively impacting the vendors whose volume of sale is dwindling in proportion to the price hike.
It is anticipated that transportation facilities will improve in the next three to four days and once this happens, the prices will start decreasing and return to normal levels.
As per the market estimate, the price of one kilogramme of apples in the retail market has risen from Rs 80 to Rs 100-120. Similarly, prices of bananas have also gone up to Rs 80 or Rs 100 per kilogramme. Additionally, vegetable prices have seen an increase of 10 to 20 per cent on an average.
Asked to comment on the trend, a vegetable vendor Manoj Kunwar said that they were at the receiving end with the buyers opting for less quantity of purchase, given the steep hike in prices. “True, sales of fruits and vegetables look up during the festive season. But we are hardly benefitting with the customers choosing to curtail quantity to keep balance,” he added.
The common people The Pioneer met in the markets also voiced concern over the stiff spike in prices of vegetables and fruit when the festive season peaked.
Dabral said that there has been an increase in vegetable and fruit prices averaging between 10 to 15 per cent. “This can be principally ascribed to transportation logjam. Transport workers take breaks from their works to participate in festivities with their families. This leads to supply break and less supply results in more prices. Prior to the festival season, five to six trucks used to deliver vegetables and fruits daily, but currently, only three to four are operational,” he said.
