The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Mango prices go through the roof

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 26, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Mango prices go through the roof

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, APRIL 25. The delicious mango fruit is leaving a bitter taste for fruit lovers this season as it is selling at a very high price and getting out of the reach of the common man. The king of fruits, which has arrived late into the city market, is now selling at Rs. 35 to Rs. 40 a kg compared to previous year's price of Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 a kg. Last year witnessed a glut in mango arrivals and the price even dipped to Rs. 10 a kg.

The mounds of mangoes untouched at the Gaddiannaram fruit market reflect the appalling situation. The high price of the fruit is not encouraging fruit sellers to pick it up from the market. Those who dare to buy, do it at their own risk. "The wholesale rates have increased by Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,000 per tonne this year and selling at Rs. 18,000 and odd. This has discouraged the traders," says an official. "Lesser supply was expected as initial reports indicated the shortage of the fruit due to adverse climatic conditions. But, we never thought supply would be so less."

The supply to the city mainly comes from Krishna, Khammam, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts, but the failure of the crop in these districts has affected the flow.

About 600 lorries of fruit came to the city in the first week of April last year.

This year, only 90 lorry loads have arrived. Similarly, in the second week of this month, 348 lorries came with the supply as against 776 lorries the previous year. Officials who expected the supply to increase in the final week of April are disappointed with only 130 lorries coming till date.

Retailers are apparently using the scarcity of fruit to skyrocket the prices. "It's unfair to jack up the prices citing insufficient supply," says Jyothi, a housewife in Tarnaka, blaming retailers, too, for the situation. "The prices have been increased by three times and we simply can't afford the delicacy." But, the sellers complain of shortage in the market. "There is hardly anyone buying mangoes this season due to the high rate," agrees, Ahmed, a fruit seller at the Secunderabad railway station.

Even as customers and roadside vendors lose, farmers, too, are not getting good price for their produce.

There are allegations that market committee officials are not doing enough to ensure that the prices are kept in check.

With half of the season already over, fruit lovers feel they have to wait till next year to enjoy the delicious mangoes.

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