Fruit, vegetable shortage to end today

The shortage of fruit and vegetables that hit during Eid holidays will come to an end this Wednesday, vendors say.

LAHORE: The shortage of fruit and vegetables that hit the city during Eid holidays will come to an end this Wednesday according to vendors.

The price of fruits and vegetables saw a sharp increase due to shortage in supply during Eid holidays. This shortage meant at least a 35 to 45 per cent price hike. The price of vegetables like onions, potatoes, garlic, ginger, spinach, brinjal, bitter-gourd and okra shot up by at least Rs15 to Rs30 per kilogramme (kg).

The price of onions was Rs60 per kg while the price prior to Eid was Rs30 to Rs 40 per kg.  The price of potatoes was Rs40 to Rs50 per kg while before Eid potatoes were sold for Rs25 to Rs30 per kg. Garlic was sold for Rs200 to Rs220 per kg, earlier it was sold for Rs145 to Rs150 per kg.  Ginger was available for Rs170 to Rs180 per kg while earlier it was sold for Rs145 to Rs150 per kg.  The price of Spinach was Rs25 to Rs30 per kg while before Eid it sold for Rs15 to Rs20 per kg.The price of apples has also risen.  Apples sold for Rs100 to Rs130 per kg but before Eid they were available for Rs50 to Rs80 per kg. Similarly, bananas sold for Rs55 to Rs65 per dozen, earlier they sold for Rs30 to Rs45 per dozen.Vendors said that the reason for the higher prices was that they are not getting the full supply from the main fruits and vegetables market. Moreover, the fruits and vegetables available are not freshly picked but around three to four days old. “The main vegetable market (Sabzi Mandi) is closed since last Friday due to Eid holidays, which caused a supply and demand problem and resulted in increased prices,” said vegetable vendor Asghar Ali. Ali added that the supply would improve from Wednesday on when fresh vegetables would arrive in the city.

“We are not sure whether the prices would return to their previous level or if there will be an increase as we hear that the flood has damaged the onion crop,” he said, adding that the prices of other vegetables would not be much impacted.

Another vendor, Bilal Ahmed, said that the supply of vegetables was further impacted as majority of transporters close shop for Eid. He said that most vendors are selling stale vegetables at higher rates. Ahmed said that the prices would decline in a day or two. The city’s departmental stores have also increased prices saying that their suppliers are delivering at higher rates. “Our suppliers have charged us an extra amount and we are just charging our margin,” the marketing manager of a super store said.

A customer, Ahmed Farooqi, said that stale vegetables in the market meant that he bought less of them.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2010.