New Delhi, (Samajweekly) Despite the closure of several routes connecting Delhi, due to the farmers’ protests, arrival of fresh vegetables and fruits in the national capital has brought down their prices, although wholesale prices of potatoes registered a slight rise while onions have declined.
Prices of all seasonal green vegetables including cabbage, spinach and peas have dropped, while off-season vegetables like okra, luffa, gourd have surged.
The farmers’ agitation protesting against the Centre’s farm laws was launched on November 26.
Initially, Delhi witnessed a low arrival of fruits and vegetables due to the stir, but now an improvement is being seen.
On Friday, Azadpur Mandi’s market saw arrival of 1,067.5 tons of potatoes which was 736.2 tons the previous day.
Similarly, arrival of onions was recorded at 1,068 tons as against 991.3 tons a day earlier. Besides, tomato arrivals were 491.6 tons against 456.8 tons a day earlier.
Rajendra Sharma, businessman and general secretary of the Potato and Onion Merchants Association of Azadpur Mandi, said that trains carrying fruits and vegetables have started coming through the routes which are opened.
He said that Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and many routes have been opened as a result there is no hurdle to the arrival of vegetables.
Sharma said that the wholesale prices of potatoes have come down to Rs 20 from Rs 27 per kg, while the prices of onions have gone up from Rs 15 to Rs 35 per kg.
However, as per Azadpur Mandi’s rate, the prices of potatoes ranged from Rs 16 to Rs 38 per kg and onion prices from Rs 10 to Rs 32.50 per kg. The prices of tomatoes was from Rs 8 to Rs 38 per kg.
Vegetable seller Pappu Kumar from Greater Noida said that consumption has increased due to the decrease in the prices of new potatoes.
He said that the arrival of potatoes is decreasing due to the farmers’ movement, otherwise prices would have fallen further.
