Bhopal: Vegetables buyers have begun to feel the heat of farmers’ strike. The strike, which entered the third day on Saturday, pushed up prices of vegetables owing to shortage.
Except for potato, prices of all vegetables have almost doubled overnight. Sunita Goyal, a homemaker who lives in a joint family, said, “I bought groceries on May 31 and when I went to the market yesterday I was shocked to see prices. At first I thought vendors were trying to extract more money in the name of the strike, but when I watched news I came to know the gravity of the issue. If the strike continues, it will have severe consequences. The poor people will be worst hit.”
Nisha Sharma, another homemaker said, “Prices of vegetable have doubled overnight. There were only a handful of vendors selling vegetables on Saturday. They took advantage of peoples’ plight. What can we do? We have to eat and feed our families so we’ll have to buy groceries, even at high price.”
Justifying the strike, state secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Anil Yadav said, “As farmers, we invest a lot of resources, time and effort into producing crop, be it vegetables, fruits or grains. When we go to sell the harvest we are barely paid base rate, leave alone profit. Wholesalers sell the harvest at low rate to businessmen who sell it at higher rates, hence making double profits. When the government has given right to other companies who manufacture biscuits and chips to fix their rates, why have we been denied this right? We have to sell our produce at such low rate that we have incurred huge debts and are unable to pay them off. I request all farmers’ associations to unite this time instead of politicizing the issue.”
While the CM said the problems will be sorted out and farmers will be given their due, members of the BKS will continue the strike for 10 days as decided. If their pleas are redressed before that they will call off the strike.
Old Prices New rates
Brinjal Rs. 20/- per Kg Brinjal Rs. 40/- per kg
Tomato Rs. 20/- per kg Tomato Rs 40/- per kg
Cauliflower Rs. 30/- per kg Cauliflower Rs. 50/- per kg
Round gourd Rs. 20/- per Kg Round gourd Rs 40/- per kg
Lady finger Rs 30/- per kg Lady finger Rs 60/- per kg
Spinach Rs. 16/- per kg Spinach Rs 40/- per kg
