The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Prices soar ahead of Ramzan

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Friday, Aug 22, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Prices soar ahead of Ramzan

J.S. Ifthekhar

With the trouble in Kashmir, there is no supply of apples at the fruit market in Kothapet

In the retail market, apples are being sold for Rs. 12 to Rs. 15 a piece
Traders expect prices to rise two weeks from now, when Ramzan begins

— PHOTO: Satish H

Up and above: Prices of most fruits are shooting up with no sign of inflation coming down.

Hyderabad: An apple a day may keep the doctor away. But right now one might have to put away the fruit itself. The health-giving fruit has become dearer with a sharp rise in its price. In the last few days apple prices have shot up steeply thanks to short supply in the market.

This time of the year the market is flooded with apples from Kashmir. But with the ongoing trouble in J&K, there is practically no supplies at the fruit market in Kothapet.

“The present supplies are from Shimla and even these have come down”, says Abdul Khadar, a fruit seller at Nampally.

The price of a box containing 150 apples has registered a hike of Rs. 300 during the last couple of days. The apple box is now priced between Rs. 1,400 to Rs. 1,500 as against Rs. 1,200 earlier. In the retail market, apples are being sold for Rs. 12 to Rs. 15 apiece. And the quality leaves much to be desired.

Not just apples, prices of other fruits have also gone up ahead of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting. Traders expect the prices to rise further two weeks from now when Ramzan begins. Grapes, pomegranates, orange and sweet orange too have become costlier. Pomegranates are ranged between Rs. 15 to Rs. 18 apiece as against Rs. 12 to Rs. 15 earlier. Grapes come at Rs. 50 a kg. The seedless variety has not yet arrived and it is expected to be much higher - between Rs. 70 to Rs. 80 a kg.

Come Ramzan and fruits are in great demand in the city especially during ‘iftar’ time. Dates are another hot-selling item and its prices too are showing an upward trend. The Kenyan variety weighing 400 grams is priced Rs. 80 as against Rs. 60 last year. The Saudi Arabian dates are available for Rs. 75 per half kg against Rs. 50 last year. The price of loose dates is also expected to be higher by Rs. 10 this year. “Prices are going to pinch really hard this time. Particularly, the poor families will be hard hit”, says Saleem Ali who works in a private firm.

Anticipating a possible rise in prices of essential commodities, some people are rushing to buy their Ramzan needs – especially products whose shelf life is long. There is usually a great demand for oil, sugar and ‘besan’. “Prices have steadily risen during the last few months.

There might be a rise of a few rupees not much”, says Afzal, a kirana merchant at Red Hills.

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