Prices of locally-grown vegetables & fruits up in India

Tag: vegetables and fruits

The going has become tough for the vendors of locally grownvegetables and fruits in the city market as well as in other partsof the state with a steady fall in the production of locally grownvegetables and fruits, coupled with fall in demand due toexorbitant prices and stiff competition from vegetable vendors andfruits imported from other states.

According to a number of vendors, the prices of locally grownvegetables and fruit were steady till some years ago but have shotup considerably over the past couple of years because of a sharpfall in produce forcing the vendors to procure them at higherprices and sell them with a bare minimum margin of profit, thusmaking life difficult for them.

Ms Laxmi Gawde, an elderly lady who sells local fruits and comesfrom Savoi-Verem in Ponda taluka, says that she has been workinghard to make ends meet, especially over the past few years as thereis a fall in the number of clients as the price of the locallygrown fruits has shot up considerably. She buys fruits from abig-time horticulturist from her native village.

Ms Gawde, who is the lone regular earning member of the family,says that fruits imported from other states were cheaper and weremuch sought after by the people while a few Goans (a number of whomare her dedicated customers who relish local fruits) prefer to buyfruits from her.

They (Goans) too sometimes resent the higher prices, she said. Herhusband is unemployed while her son does odd jobs.

Mr Neru Shirodkar, who sells both, fruits as well as vegetables,says that it is difficult to get the items from the growers. Healso said that though many locally grown items are bought mainly byGoans with occasional enquiries from non-Goans. The non-Goansseldom buy the locally grown vegetables and fruits because theycarry higher price tag, he said adding that things have changed forworse over the past several years.

Mr Shirodkar says prior to him, his mother sold the locally grownvegetables and fruits and that he took over the business over thelast 15 years. He says that he travels distances to get thevegetables and fruits and that not only their prices are on thehigher side but transportation has also gone up considerably thusmaking it difficult to charge a higher price from the clients. Thishas made it difficult for him to make a decent living.

Ms Laxmi Kundaikar from Carambolim, who is said to be a localwholesaler, says that she prefers to get local vegetables andfruits from Margao where prices are moderate as compared to thevegetables from nearby areas of Dona Paula, Taleigao, etc. She alsosaid that it is difficult to get these items at cheaper prices andin view of that, they are sold at higher rate. She suppliesvegetables to 15-20 others in the city market.

Ms Shashi Kalangutkar of Nerul, who sells fruits and coconuts,expressed similar views. She says that she buys the stuff fromlocal wholesalers and that there is a fall in clientele over theyears perhaps because of higher prices.