Govt urged for subsidy to reduce vegetable prices
VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM, FEB 8
The Ponda-based Bagayatdar society has urged the State government to offer subsidies to it on par with Goa State Horticulture Development Corporation (GHDC) Limited in a bid to make available vegetables to people at affordable prices.
Goa Bagayatdar Sahakari Kharedi Vikri Saunstha Maryadit Chairman Narendra Sawaikar said that the society has been selling commodities at competitive rates, but subsidy by the Government would help them to drop down the prices drastically.
“We want subsidy like what GSHDC is availing so that vegetables could be sold at much cheaper rates across the counters,” he said.
Sawaikar has sent reminders to the Government about the proposal, reply of which is awaited. “We had written to the Government a year back proposing subsidy. We also sent a reminder two months ago after which we were told that our proposal is under consideration,” he added.
The society which has branches across the State has already created a record by selling onions at Rs 22 per kg as against GSHDC’s price of Rs 25 per kg some time back.
Sawaikar said the society also procures vegetables from wholesale markets in Belgaum but absence of subsidy on transportation and direct subsidy by the government is an impediment.
“Let government give us the much-needed subsidy and we will have much cheaper vegetables on our counters,” he said adding, “We procure over 10 tonnes of vegetables per day, besides fruits, with monthly turnover touching Rs 45 lakh approximately.”
He said that his society decides its own rates. Its total sale between April 2009 and March 2010 was a whopping Rs 4 crore.
Agriculture Minister Vishwajeet Rane told Herald, Government should examine the situation in the interest of the people who are feeling the pinch on account of the fluctuating vegetable prices.
“The Government has certain limitations. The issue needs a policy decision. We have to examine the situation before I make any statement. Let the Finance Department look into the matter,” Rane said.
He said GSHDC’s subsidised scheme is a measure adopted by government to arrest food inflation.
Govt urged for subsidy to reduce vegetable prices
PANJIM, FEB 8 The Ponda-based Bagayatdar society has urged the State government to offer subsidies to it on par with Goa State Horticulture Development Corporation (GHDC) Limited in a bid to make available vegetables to people at affordable prices.
