Belgaum vegetable suppliers block supply to GSHC
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
BELGAUM, FEB 8
Wholesale vegetable suppliers of Belgaum market, who are affected by the policy of Goa State Horticulture Corporation’s (GSHC), blocked all supplies to the corporation on Tuesday, sparking off tension in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) market yard.
The agitated members, who gathered at the yard late Tuesday evening, did not allow loading of vegetables to GSHC.
The members have resolved to intensify their agitation if GSHC does not come to terms for the benefit of the suppliers and the Goans.
However, supplies to the regular Goa market continued, while flurry of activities was witnessed in Belgaum market.
A strong police force was also deployed at the site.
The Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Market Association with a membership of about 500 members submitted a memorandum to the District Administration.
Apart from demanding inclusion of more suppliers in the list, the Association has also sought the intervention of Karnataka government in this regard.
In a rather unprecedented development, the members have arrived at a unanimous decision to stop the entire vegetable supplies to Goa if GSHC, which is adamant with its policy of patronizing only four suppliers, does not come to terms allowing participation of more suppliers.
According to the irate members, it was learnt that the horticulture corporation is procuring vegetables from only four members, of which about 75 per cent is procured only from one supplier.
They have also alleged that GSHC is trying to terminate the age-old Belgaum-Goa ties, as the suppliers to the Corporation are procuring vegetables from outside Belgaum.
“We have sent more than 150 applications to the Goa horticulture corporation to purchase vegetables from other wholesale vendors as well. However, the Goan authorities are reluctant to concede to our demands for reasons best known to them,” said a senior vegetable supplier.
“Prices of vegetables can be highly competitive provided there are more suppliers. Moreover, Goans can enjoy better rate with the government subsidy. Moreover, since the corporation is prompt in its payment as the payments are made every week, vegetables can be supplied at highly competitive rates,” a veteran member said urging the Goan authorities to give opportunity to more suppliers from Belgaum.
Since Monday is the weekly holiday for the Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Market, here, a flurry of activity was witnessed in the market on Tuesday.
However, the attempt of suppliers to the GSHC who tried to load vehicles from the APMC market yard was thwarted by the suppliers who gathered there in large number and strongly opposed the loading of the vehicles.
According to members, Goa’s policy of procuring vegetables from only four vendors has not only posed serious threat to the existence of the Belgaum wholesale vegetable market, but has also left scope for corruption at a larger scale.
The crisis has deepened further, as this has also posed serious threat to a large number of vegetable growing farmers from Belgaum district, as members of wholesale vegetable market have decided to block supplies of vegetables to the horticulture corporation of Goa.
“We are not against the subsidy, but we have demanded that Belgaum farmers should not suffer and all the other suppliers too must get an equal opportunity,” said Association President Divakar Patil.
When asked about Goa’s alternative of procuring vegetables from other places, he said it is extremely difficult as except for a few items, most of the vegetables are a perishable commodity.
When contacted, the deputy Commissioner of Belgaum said she had called GSHC Chairperson Sankalp Amonkar, who it was learnt is sending a delegation comprising senior GSHC officials to Belgaum.
A meeting will be held at the deputy commissioner’s office at Belgaum on Wednesday morning.
