Vendors make up for loss, charge more from consumers

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 23

There seems to be no check on vendors “looting” consumers. While buying veggies, a consumer has to shell out 3 to 4 times more in order to get the same vegetable/ fruit from a retailer.

In the wholesale market, broccoli costs Rs18 per kilogram, while red and yellow bell pepper was being sold for Rs30-35 per kilogram to ferri-walas. Tomatoes are sold for Rs6 per kg in the wholesale market at Bahadurke Road. But with a regular vegetable vendor, broccoli costs about Rs80 per kg, bell pepper Rs120-Rs130 per kg, while tomatoes Rs20 per kg.

Amarvir Singh, general secretary of the Punjab State Fruits and Vegetable Commission Agents’ Association, agreed that a consumer has to pay hefty price to get veggies/fruits from retail market.

“Today, none of the vegetables is costly. The maximum price of bell pepper is Rs30 per kilogram. All other vegetables are less than Rs30-35 per kilogram. Yet, consumers are getting these at exorbitant rates from retailers. The arhtiyas, get these from farmers and sell to ferri-walas, who get it in bulk. The margin of ferri-walas is also nominal. Then, this is sold to the retailer and vegetable vendors, who visit different areas and colonies. There, vegetables are sold at hefty rates and ultimately, the consumer has to shell out more,” admitted Amarvir Singh.

Home-makers expressed shock to know that vegetables were so “cheap” in the wholesale markets. At the same time, they said it was not “viable” for a home-maker to visit such mandis on a daily basis and ultimately they have to rely on nearby markets or vendors only.

“It is not possible for us to visit mandis, which are far-off. We can go to nearby markets, where mandis are held every week, but going far-off to sabzi mandi at Bahadurke Road is impossible,” said Sonu Gupta, a homemaker.

One of the retailers Gurmeet Singh at Dandi Swami Road here, however, said retailers had no choice but to sell vegetables at increased prices because the shelf life of veggies and fruits was limited and the next day, these were to be thrown (if stale). “Daily stocks are to be added by retailers and consumer wants fresh veggies. We are not able to sell the entire lot and the left-over goes wasted. In such a scenario, how can we survive if we do not charge little more to a consumer?” asked a retailer.

Arhtiyas to hold mandi from April 

Arhtiyas have planned to come up with another mandi to benefit consumers. Amarvir Singh, general secretary of the Punjab State Fruits and Vegetable Commission Agents' Association, said they had got land in Salem Tabri area and were planning to come up with another sabzi mandi for consumers. “Consumers can come and get vegetables at cheaper rates as compared to rehri vendors or retailers,” said Amarvir Singh.