Veggie supply to be hit, traders strike from Feb 3

Your daily supply of fruits and vegetables is set to be disrupted and prices may soar with wholesalers calling for an indefinite strike from February 3 to protest against the government blocking their commission.

Your daily supply of fruits and vegetables is set to be disrupted and prices may soar with wholesalers calling for an indefinite strike from February 3 to protest against the government blocking their commission.

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“All mandis – Azadpur, Okhla, Keshavpuram and Ghazipur – will go on strike since the commission we used to get from farmers has been stopped by the Delhi government. The supply to the retail market will also get affected and prices may rise in the coming week,” said Anil Malhotra, member of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC).

The state government has put an end to the six percent commission wholesalers got from farmers upon procurement of the produce, saying it was only a mechanism to exploit farmers.

“If wholesalers are found violating this regulation, they will be prosecuted and their license may be revoked,” said state development minister Girish Soni.

The APMC said the strike may lead to soaring prices since the retail supply of vegetables and fruits will be hit. The government, however, denied the claim, saying the absence of commission will lead to increased supply from farms to wholesalers. It, however, admitted that wholesalers were free to pass on the burden of the commission to the buyers through the selling price.