The Hindu : Front Page : Vegetable retailers strike it rich

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Friday, Jul 04, 2008
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Vegetable retailers strike it rich

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: As the truckers’ strike entered the second day on Thursday, vegetable prices skyrocketed in Bangalore with a kilo of beans being sold at Rs. 30, carrot at Rs. 40, capsicum Rs. 70 and ginger Rs. 40.

The price of mackerel recorded a 50 per cent increase from Rs. 80 to Rs. 120 a kg.

Retail vegetable merchants appear to be cashing in on the ongoing truckers’ strike by increasing the prices at their whims if one goes by the Agriculture Marketing Department’s statement that there is adequate stock of vegetables to last for a week.

There was a steep decline in the arrival of vegetables at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee, Binny Mill, here on Thursday whereas arrivals were normal till Tuesday, department officials said. Department Director and Managing Director of Karnataka State Agriculture Marketing Board H.R. Srinivas told The Hindu that the strike had minimum impact on the arrival of vegetables.

Mr. Srinivas attributed the decreased arrival at Binny Mill APMC to the tradition of not lifting commodities on the new moon that occurred on Wednesday and Thursday.

He said while APMCs in north Karnataka close during the time, those in Bangalore remain open though not many dealers trade.

As transportation of vegetables is exempted from the strike and they are transported in smaller vehicles, there is no reason to panic, Mr. Srinivas said.

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