Prices of veggies shoot up, milk supply hit in Delhi

The prices of essential commodities, especially vegetables, fruits and milk, have gone up marginally in the national Capital  as the National Highways, connecting Haryana towns with Delhi, have been shut due to the Jat agitation. 

The spiralling prices have put many vegetables off the menu in many households. The worst-hit are those belonging to low and middle income groups as prices of most vegetables such as cauliflower and potato have doubled.

The wholesale prices of potato, cauliflower, carrot and green leafy vegetables have risen by Rs 100 per quintal at Azadpur mandi, Asia's largest wholesale market for fruits and vegetables. Prices of potatoes and green leafy vegetables have risen by on average Rs 3-4 per kg.

"There is 10-15 per cent shortage in supply from Haryana. However, the demand is being met from Rajasthan and other states. If the protest continues, the supply would be affected even more and accordingly the prices," an Azadpur Mandi official said.

According to traders at various mandis in Delhi and NCR, there is no respite from the spiraling vegetable/ fruit prices soon due to the stir.

On Sunday, tomato, which was earlier available at Rs 20-25 per kg, is now being sold at Rs 35-40 per kg. Similarly, potato is being sold at Rs 20-25 per kg, which was earlier priced at Rs 10; onion at Rs 35 per kg, pea as Rs 35, cauliflower Rs 40, capsicum Rs 100, cabbage Rs 25-30 per kg. 

According to various mandis in Delhi-NCR, the vegetables mentioned above are priced almost double than what they cost a fortnight ago.

“When I went to the market, I was shocked as the prices of almost all vegetables and fruits have shot up. The vendor has said that there is a possibility of further price rise and has suggested me to stock vegetables at least for a week,” said Kanta Aggarwal, a housewife.

To stock basic vegetables, people are now heading towards mandis as vendors and outlets such as Safal, Mother Dairy kiosks and Fair Price shops - Reliance, Subhiksha and Spice to name a few - are selling them at very high rates. “The rates have shot up in the wholesale and retail markets as the supply has gone down drastically. The price of these commodities are likely to rise on a day-to-day basis,” said Rohit, a vendor at a Mother Dairy outlet in Defence Colony.

Traders said acute shortage in the supply of vegetables and fruits will have an impact in neighbouring states as well as Delhi’s mandis are key suppliers to these states.

Operations at Amul’s milk plant in Rohtak remained suspended. It has a capacity of 5 lakh litres per day.

Kwality Ltd said it has stopped milk collection from its chilling centres in Sirsa and Fatehabad.

The milk demand is being met in Delhi-NCR by increased supplies from Uttar Pradesh, while that of vegetables is being fulfilled by neighbouring Rajasthan.