Veggie crisis: Root of the problem
First came the stike, then the goa governments attempts to solve the situation. As we go to press the comfort of going to our local market and buying veggies at the right price still eludes most Goans. Suraj Nandrekar travelled to Belgaum where the crisis all began and spoke to all players to get a feel of the situation.
The main local player is the Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Markets Association (CWVMA) of Belgaum which has banned its members from supplying vegetables to suppliers who sell to the Goa State Horticulture Corporation.
An uneasy calm prevailed in the Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Markets Association (CWVMA) Belgaum as the rates of vegetables have come crashing down due to their own association’s decision not to allow the any kind of supply to the Goa State Horticulture Corporation (GSHC).
Though this has hit small traders who are CWVMA members, they are reluctant to supply to GSHC suppliers, fearing a ban form their association.
At the root of problem, according to local traders, lies the subsidy scheme of the government of Goa
A small time trader named Vaiju Patil, who supplies veggies to Bicholim, Sanquelim, Margao etc said their business in Goa is down because locals in Goa buy vegetables only from the GHSC shops , where prices are lower and not from the regular stalls where the bulk of the vegetables from Belgaum are sent.
About 300 tonnes of vegetables are supplied to Goa with 47 trucks leaving daily.
Out of this 130 tonnes are procured by GSHC through it four suppliers – Jai Ganesh Trading, Om Trading, Balaji Trading and Prashant Trading while the rest through the 115 members of the CWVMA.
