Retailers hike veggie prices, public suffers

Mumbai: A day after the farmers' strike, retailers across the city hiked prices of vegetables and fruits. A bunch of coriander which otherwise costs approximately Rs 20 rupee was being sold for Rs 100 on Friday, while prices of tomatoes jumped from Rs 28 to Rs 50 per kg.

The agricultural produce market committee (APMC) market in Mumbai was largely unaffected with the price rise on Day-2 of the farmers' strike although only 60 per cent of the stock arrived on Friday. Owing to the strike, there was 56 per cent dip in milk procurement in Maharashtra.

The Kisan Kranti farmers have threatened to intensify their stir if the government does not waive off their loans. The agitating farmers have called for Maharashtra bandh on June 5. They have also threatened to lock all the government offices on June 6 and offices of MLAs and ministers on June 7.

On Friday, most of the APMC markets remained shut across the state. Some trucks from neighbouring states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and even Uttar Pradesh arrived at Mumbai's APMC. “There is not much effect in Mumbai's APMC but onions did not arrive from Nashik. The five per cent rise in the APMC prices is normal,” said Shivaji Pahinkar, APMC secretary, Navi Mumbai . Everday, around 7,000 tonne of vegetables reach the APMC, Navi Mumbai.

Police said that some farmers blocked parts of the Mumbai-Agra highway near Nashik and vehicles carrying vegetables to Pune and Gujarat. The curfew imposed in Yeola town, around 70 km from Nashik remained in force on Friday as well.

Several politicians, including Congress state president Ashok Chavan, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPM leader Sitaram Yechuri, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and MNS chief Raj Thackeray extended their support to the farmers strike. Yechuri said that CPM and Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha would participate in Maharashtra Bandh on June 5.