MUMBAI: As if the exorbitant cost of petrol, diesel and LPG used to be not sufficient to reason a dent in family budgets, the steady rise in potato costs from Rs 16 in step with kg to Rs 22-25 during the last 4 weeks has angered Mumbaikars.
Potato farmers have been agitating for higher remunerative charges during the last few months, even dumping their produce within the streets of north India.
Wholesale traders in Mumbai verify that there's no shortage, leaving homeowners puzzled about the cause of the increase.
Trader Ashok Walunj, who heads the onion-potato market in APMC Vashi, said the choice of vehicles bringing produce used to be customary. "Approximately 60-70 truckloads of onion-potato arrive in Vashi each day while 15-20 come to Mumbai directly. There is no scarcity at all. Around 80-90 vehicles came on Friday too. The farmers' strike has no impact on us. But the wholesale price of potato in Vashi itself is Rs 12-16 so retailers will naturally charge Rs 20-25 owing to overhead costs of transportation and loading expenses."
Walunj said emerging costs have been a result of the federal government's abolition of APMC traders' commission which came into effect two years ago.
Meanwhile Mumbaikars are angry and disenchanted at the synthetic inflation. "Green peas are selling for Rs 160 per kg, lady finger Rs 80, and common cauliflower and brinjal Rs 60-80. Cluster bean (gavar) is Rs 100 per kg and beetroot Rs 60. But even the commonest vegetables like tomato and potato which are used in every vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipe are now causing anxiety. Both are abundantly available yet greengrocers are charging Rs 30 for tomato and Rs 26 for potato," said Amboli housewife Arshiya Qureshi. "We are in the midst of Ramzan and every additional expense is putting a burden on festive planning."
Potato farmers have been agitating for higher remunerative charges during the last few months, even dumping their produce within the streets of north India.
Wholesale traders in Mumbai verify that there's no shortage, leaving homeowners puzzled about the cause of the increase.
Trader Ashok Walunj, who heads the onion-potato market in APMC Vashi, said the choice of vehicles bringing produce used to be customary. "Approximately 60-70 truckloads of onion-potato arrive in Vashi each day while 15-20 come to Mumbai directly. There is no scarcity at all. Around 80-90 vehicles came on Friday too. The farmers' strike has no impact on us. But the wholesale price of potato in Vashi itself is Rs 12-16 so retailers will naturally charge Rs 20-25 owing to overhead costs of transportation and loading expenses."
Walunj said emerging costs have been a result of the federal government's abolition of APMC traders' commission which came into effect two years ago.
Meanwhile Mumbaikars are angry and disenchanted at the synthetic inflation. "Green peas are selling for Rs 160 per kg, lady finger Rs 80, and common cauliflower and brinjal Rs 60-80. Cluster bean (gavar) is Rs 100 per kg and beetroot Rs 60. But even the commonest vegetables like tomato and potato which are used in every vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipe are now causing anxiety. Both are abundantly available yet greengrocers are charging Rs 30 for tomato and Rs 26 for potato," said Amboli housewife Arshiya Qureshi. "We are in the midst of Ramzan and every additional expense is putting a burden on festive planning."
Potato prices witness steep hike in Mumbai
![Potato prices witness steep hike in Mumbai]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 08, 2018
Rating:
