Prices of vegetables and essential commodities have begun to show an upward trend across Kerala with the five-day-old truckers’ strike showing no sign of a resolution.
Traders have begun talking about fall in business volumes and hardening of prices owing to supply disruptions resulting from the strike. The prices of vegetables have gone up between 10% and 25%. Onions and potatoes that are quick to rot are being sold at higher prices.
The prices of groceries are stable for the present, as wholesalers have adequate stocks. But in the days to come, if the situation is not resolved, then prices will go up, especially that of sugar and rice.
Slump in business
According to wholesale vegetable traders in Palakkad, prices have gone up by roughly 25%, which will translate into higher prices in the retail market. Traders are also talking about a slump in business owing to non-arrival of goods from States such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The traders say there has been a 40% decline in vegetable arrivals from Karnataka through Walayar. The arrivals from Tamil Nadu too have been hit as only small public carriers owned by traders in Palakkad and their counterparts in areas such as Palani, Udumalpet, and Theni in Tamil Nadu are transporting vegetables to the State. As much as 60% of the trucks normally operating in the district are now off the road.
In Kochi
Vegetable traders in Kochi say the prices have not shot up as vegetables are also being sourced from within the State.
K.J. Antony, founder of the Thodupuzha-based Kerala Agricultural Development Society, which has an outlet in Ernakulam, said though some vegetables were in short supply owing to the rain, supplies were coming from Thrissur and Palakkad.
In the State capital, prices of perishables have started climbing. A few trucks are reaching the market, but that is not even one-fourth of what it receives everyday, setting off a steep rise in prices.
Supplies from Mettupalayam and Hosur have come to a stop in the wake of violent incidents. Only a few trucks are arriving, at huge risk of being pelted with stones.
“Truckers factor in the security risk and consequently a truckload of tomato that cost ₹20,000 now commands ₹36,000.”
A 10-15% increase in prices of vegetables and fruits has been reported from markets in Malappuram. The arrival of fruits, vegetables, groceries, poultry, and building materials has been affected severely, rendering loaders also jobless.
The movement of vegetables from the border areas of Tamil Nadu to the main market at Kattappana in the high range has not been affected as the vegetables are collected from Cumbom and Theni markets and transported in pick-up vans owned by local merchants, said a vegetable merchant at Kattappana.
Wayanad farmers hit
In Wayanad, it is the farmers who have been hit owing to the non-availability of transport facilities. The price of fresh ginger rhizomes declined to ₹600 for a bag (60 kg a bag) as against ₹900 a kg a few days ago.
Whereas the price of plantain and elephant foot yam in Wayanad market on Tuesday was ₹25-27 a kg and ₹800 a bag (60 kg) as against ₹32 a kg and ₹1,050 a bag respectively a week ago.
Traders at the Sakthan market in Thrissur said the agitation had resulted in 60% fall in business.
“The arrival of vegetables from Tami Nadu and Karnataka has been affected,” said V.L. Dencil, executive committee member of the Thrissur Merchant Association.