Prices of fruits rise due to poor supply

AURANGABAD: Rising prices of vegetables, and now fruits, are burning a hole in the buyer's pocket. Fruit prices have shot up by 40-80% in the last two weeks in the market. Traders blamed poor supply for the sudden hike in prices. Retail prices of apple, pomegranate, papaya, sweet lime and sapodilla (chikoo) have gone up by approximately Rs 10 to Rs 50 per kg. Similar inflation has been reported in vegetable prices since the beginning of monsoon season in the region. Bagban Mohammed Zafar, a wholesaler based in Jadhavwadi market, said reduced arrival of fruits in the market was widening the gap between demand and supply and pushing up the prices. "At present, we are receiving imported apple because Indian variety of apple is not available. Suppliers based in Mumbai and Pune are procuring it from USA and supplying it in markets like Aurangabad. The variety is slightly costly and hence the retail prices are high," he said, adding that the apple prices surged from Rs 160 per kg to Rs 180 per kg in the last fifteen days. Zafar said new crop of apple from north Indian states would reach the local market by July end. "Today, we are receiving less than 10 tonnes of apple every day but retailers need more than 15 tonnes. However, there will be additional demand of fruits during the upcoming Ramzan and it seems that prices may not come down," he felt. President of Marathwada Fruits and Vegetables Association, Yousuf Choudhary, said that pomegranate which was available at Rs 50-60 per kg in mid-June has now jumped to Rs 100 per kg. "It is a locally supplied fruit but because of water scarcity, less quantity is reaching the markets. But in next 30-40 days, fresh crop will arrive and prices may come down marginally," he said. On an average, 10 tonnes pomegranate is being traded at the Jadhavwadi market but the requirement was more, he added. Papaya is another fruit variety which has seen stupendous hike in last couple of weeks. From its earlier price of Rs 12 per kg two weeks ago, it has gone up to Rs 20 per kg. Choudhary said the city market gets papaya from nearby places like Chikhali, Washim and so on. "But the supply got affected due to rain and ultimately prices urged," he explained. "Similarly, sweet lime is also a locally available fruit but recent drought in Marathwada has severely impacted its production. We are now bringing sweet lime from Andhra Pradesh but its price has remained stable at Rs 50 per kg for the last 15-20 days," he said. Meanwhile, in its last phase, mango prices of one variety has increased by Rs 10 per kg while another variety has marked drop by Rs 20 per kg. "Daseri mango which was available at Rs 40-50 per kg has now surged to Rs 60-80 while the 'Langada' variety of mango has seen price going down from Rs 50-60 per kg to Rs 40-50 per kg," Chaudhary said.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/Prices-of-fruits-rise-due-to-poor-supply/articleshow/20852744.cms