PANJIM: After adverse shortage of veggies and milk supply owing to incessant rains that damaged crops in the neighbouring States as well as disrupted transportation, supply of these essential perishable goods – on which Goa is heavily dependent upon is slowly resuming.
However, the prices of the vegetables are burning a hole in common man’s pocket. The sky-rocketing price is attributed to major loss suffered by the cultivators, which led to minimal supply.
Tomato prices have spiked to Rs 100 per kg, retail price of which was Rs 30-40 before the rain fury in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The increase in tomato prices has caused a ripple effect on other vegetables too as prices of potatoes, carrots, coriander, mint leaves, bottle gourd among others have also seen a significant hike.
The rates of potatoes have touched Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg, whereas its usual price was Rs 40 approx. Other expensive vegetables include French beans and carrot which are being sold at around Rs 140 and Rs 120 per kg, garlic at Rs 200 per kg and ginger Rs 250 per kg. Whereas the retail rate of brinjal is around Rs 60 per kg while onion rates have increased marginally by Rs 5 to Rs 45 per kg. Some vendors have also been selling onions at Rs 30 per kg. The traders maintain that prices of the vegetables could further rise if rain continues to play havoc.
The milk supply is also coming back on track after its adverse shortage – a situation that forced even many hotels to serve tea without milk to its customers.
With even fresh milk, poultry and beef going off the shelves, NGO Goa People’s Front has urged the Goa government and other agencies to ensure that Goa is not dependent on neighbouring States for basic food supplies. “Else, there should be some mechanism to transport the daily food stock requirements in case the highways are closed or normal civilian transport is affected due to landslides, flooding, unrest or strikes. We have realised our complete dependence on them (Maharashtra and Karnataka) and if transport is affected for any reason for 3-4 days, people in Goa may have to go hungry,” Trevor D’Souza of the GFP said.
The outlets of the Goa Horticulture Corporation, that supplies vegetables and fruits on subsidised rates, were also largely affected owing to the shortage of supply. Several outlets were shut till the supply resumed on Friday. Chairman Pravin Zantye told Herald that horticulture outlets are now open for its customers as supply of the goods resumed on Friday.
Meanwhile, since last two days there has been some respite from incessant rains. The State is on yellow alert on Sunday which means there will be heavy rainfall at isolated places.
