Skyrocketing fuel prices didn’t impact fruit, veggie costs, say traders

Traders anticipate a rise in prices of farm commodities due to last week’s hailstorm and isolated rainfall

Fruit and vegetable prices in and around Bengaluru did not see an alarming increase despite the skyrocketing fuel prices for over a month. Traders, however, anticipate a rise in prices of farm commodities due to last week’s hailstorm and isolated rainfall.

Merchants at the Yeshwantpur APMC market told DH that the prices of vegetables, particularly onions and potatoes, have remained stable for the last two weeks.

“While potatoes from Madhya Pradesh are sold at Rs 700 to 800 per quintal, onion procured from Maharashtra is priced at Rs 2,400 to 2,500 per half-a-quintal. But with the rain, the prices may shoot up slightly in the coming days,” B L Shankarappa of the Onion and Potato Traders Association said.

Except for the variety of beans, the prices of the vegetables have not fluctuated much. “Carrot and beetroot are sold between Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kilogram. Brinjal and ladies finger are sold at about Rs 30 to Rs 45 per kg,” revealed a trader from KR Market.

Sridhar, a member of the Wholesale Vegetable Traders Association in Kalasipalyam, said: “Even if the truckers increase cargo charges by Rs 20 per bag (of vegetables) due to the hike in fuel prices, it will cost only 20 paise per kilogram for the buyer, which is negligible.”

Weather conditions

A glut in farm produce during the winter offsets any price rise, traders reasoned.

“The hailstorm and rains have definitely spoiled some varieties like tomatoes, onion and other crops. As summer sets in by March first week, the inflow of vegetables reduces considerably due to a fall in cultivation. Probably, then the prices may go up
considerably,” said Lakshman, a wholesale trader of vegetables in KR Market.

Merchants at the wholesale fruits market at Singena Agrahara also said the price of fruits has remained the same in the last few weeks despite procurement from far-off places.

“As the temperature goes up, products will also perish. Summers usually witness high demand due to festivities and annual fairs. However, the production will be minimal triggering the prices during those months,” Venkatesh from Fruits Commission Agents Association revealed.

But on the other hand, pulses and food grain traders admit that the fuel price hike has caused a marginal increase in the price of commodities.

Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, president, Bengaluru Wholesale Food Grains and Pulses Merchants’ Association, said the prices of various commodities, including rice, wheat, sugar and pulses, have shot up by 30 paise per kilogram suggesting about Rs 3,000 to 4,000 per truckload.

With the state allowing corporates to buy commodities, prices of tur dal have shot up by Rs 10 per kilogram, coupled with a 15 per cent slump in production.

“Constant fuel price rise failed to have any impact for now, but it would definitely affect the cost of commodities, if (fuel prices) continues to rise over the next 15 days,” Lahoti explained.