All eyes on Belagavi’s supply of vegetables

TNN | Updated: Apr 21, 2020, 12:21 IST

While private vendors have been carrying out supply to be marketed to general vegetable vendors in Goa, the latter cater to the Goa government's 2,000-odd horticulture outlets across the state

While private vendors have been carrying out supply to be marketed to general vegetable vendors in Goa, the la...Read More

PANAJI: Despite fears surrounding the spike in Covid-19 cases in Belagavi, private vegetable as well as government horticulture suppliers are optimistic that the supply of fresh greens to the state will not be affected.
While private vendors have been carrying out supply to be marketed to general vegetable vendors in Goa, the latter cater to the Goa government's 2,000-odd horticulture outlets across the state.
The Karnataka government has closed all vehicular traffic, including those transporting essential commodities, after fresh Covid-19 cases were reported in Belagavi district. Goa State Horticulture Corporation Limited (GSHCL) only received vegetables from Belagavi until Friday. It didn’t receive the greens on Saturday, while Sunday and Monday are holidays for the suppliers.
“Since the number of patients increased, Belagavi went on a 100% lockdown,” one of the suppliers, Ramesh Pawale said.
The suppliers trading with the horticulture corporation are registered with the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Belagavi. The APMC has sealed its market since they’re currently sanitising the area. The local administration, Belagavi police and APMC have requested suppliers to suspend trade activities on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
“Besides not having the labour force to transport the vegetables, suppliers were forced to suspend operations after the Belagavi police allegedly started lathi-charging people who were found loitering on the roads,” Pawale said.
As a result, supplies to the horticulture corporation in Goa were affected. The supplies will, however, resume on Tuesday, so the vegetables will reach Goa by Wednesday morning, said GSHCL managing director, Sandeep Faldesai
Abdul Niralgi, who supplies vegetables to private vendors in Goa, said that operators like him have all the necessary travel permits and are constantly maintaining sanitation in transportation vehicles.