Blame truant retailers, not weather gods for pricey veggies
18 March 2015 6:28 AM IST
Not the rains, but retailers appear responsible for the sky-rocketing prices of vegetables in the national Capital. The retailers are exhorting the consumers by increasing prices by up to five times just by bringing vegetables from Mandis, located at stone throw distances from residential areas. In the process, both farmers and consumers are suffering and the middlemen are gaining profits, citing rain havoc as the reason behind the damage of standing crops, which is true to an extent.
A visit through various mandis reveals the sordid state of affairs and the plight of farmers too. Despite heavy rains, vegetables are available at low prices and even traders are providing them to retailers with just minor hikes. But some retailers are selling the same with manifold increase in prices.
The traders, who deal directly from mandis, rue that they are being blamed for hoarding and black marketing, while fact remains that retailers are the chief culprits behind the soaring prices of essential commodities.
“Although the rains have affected the supply lately, vegetables are being purchased at usual rates. As the agencies have no control over local vendors, they are selling vegetables at inflated rates,” said Ravinder Saini, a tomato trader from Azadpur Mandi.
The claims made by traders have been ascertained, while inquiring into prices of vegetables, especially perishable items.
The mandis in Azadpur and Okhla are offering cabbages at whole sale prices – between Rs five to Rs eight per kg, while in the retail market, the prices are varying between Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg. Whole sale prices of tomatoes are varying between Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg, whereas in retail, they are varying between Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg. Onions, peas, spinach, cauliflowers, coriander, lady fingers, bottle gourds, bitter gourds, lemons and scores of other vegetables are being sold at rates, which are two to three times higher in comparison to the whole sale market.
“Rumours are being spread that traders are raking moolah citing reasons of short supply, but the truth is that the wholesale prices of most vegetables have remained the same. Neither farmers nor traders are getting any benefit. The retailers are the real beneficiaries,” said Abdul Salam from Okhla Mandi.
Rajendra Sharma, former chairman of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), claimed that prices cannot be controlled without checking the monopoly of retailers or local vendors. Claiming the emergency measures taken by the marketing committee to be inappropriate, he said that authorities should crack down on brazen vendors. “Unless authorities initiate strict measures against such retailers, prices will go up. The situation will deteriorate more in future due to water logging in fields and further rains,” said Sharma.
A visit through various mandis reveals the sordid state of affairs and the plight of farmers too. Despite heavy rains, vegetables are available at low prices and even traders are providing them to retailers with just minor hikes. But some retailers are selling the same with manifold increase in prices.
The traders, who deal directly from mandis, rue that they are being blamed for hoarding and black marketing, while fact remains that retailers are the chief culprits behind the soaring prices of essential commodities.
“Although the rains have affected the supply lately, vegetables are being purchased at usual rates. As the agencies have no control over local vendors, they are selling vegetables at inflated rates,” said Ravinder Saini, a tomato trader from Azadpur Mandi.
The claims made by traders have been ascertained, while inquiring into prices of vegetables, especially perishable items.
The mandis in Azadpur and Okhla are offering cabbages at whole sale prices – between Rs five to Rs eight per kg, while in the retail market, the prices are varying between Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg. Whole sale prices of tomatoes are varying between Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg, whereas in retail, they are varying between Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg. Onions, peas, spinach, cauliflowers, coriander, lady fingers, bottle gourds, bitter gourds, lemons and scores of other vegetables are being sold at rates, which are two to three times higher in comparison to the whole sale market.
“Rumours are being spread that traders are raking moolah citing reasons of short supply, but the truth is that the wholesale prices of most vegetables have remained the same. Neither farmers nor traders are getting any benefit. The retailers are the real beneficiaries,” said Abdul Salam from Okhla Mandi.
Rajendra Sharma, former chairman of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), claimed that prices cannot be controlled without checking the monopoly of retailers or local vendors. Claiming the emergency measures taken by the marketing committee to be inappropriate, he said that authorities should crack down on brazen vendors. “Unless authorities initiate strict measures against such retailers, prices will go up. The situation will deteriorate more in future due to water logging in fields and further rains,” said Sharma.
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