Soaring prices of vegetables in the Sunday markets become a growing concern for the middle class people of the federal capital. This Sunday, along with other vegetables, the increasing prices of onions and tomatoes have added to the woes of an already inflation stricken people.
According to vegetable vendors, short supply of vegetables due to the recent floods in Sindh are the reason behind the price rise. “As there is almost no local production…we have to get vegetables from other cities to meet the demand of customers,” said Rafaqat Hussain a stall holder in Sector H/9 Sunday bazaar. Currently tomatoes are being imported from neighboring India, he added.
The capital had enough place for yielding vegetables as there are 505 agriculture farms in various parts of the metropolis including Chak Shahzad, Tarlai Kalan, Sehana Poultry & Vegetables Scheme, which are producing nothing. These farms are houses which had been allotted to the influential elite including generals, brigadiers and politicians instead of genuine farmers.
As per CDA bylaws for agro-farming schemes, at least 80% of the allotted land has to be brought under cultivation but the said influential ‘farmers’ in connivance with CDA officials had been using agriculture forms for commercial purposes by establishing marriages halls, luxury residences and political offices there.
On the other hand, genuine farmers in the federal capital area have been facing acute shortage of agriculture land. “If the CDA would ask these influential folk to vacate the agro-farms and re-allot them to the actual farmers of the city… the farmers could not only easily meet the demands of the city but can export vegetables to other countries,” said Malik Ramzan, a farmer who cultivates vegetables at Sowan.
This week the prices of brinjal, tori, pumpkin, onion and black pepper witnessed a significant increase compared to previous week’s prices. This week the prices of tomato, which had been fluctuating for the last three weeks, once again witnessed an increase of Rs 20 per kg.
According to the price lists of the Sunday bazaars, this week tomatoes were sold at Rs 70 per kg against the previous week’s rate of Rs 50 per kg, onion was sold at Rs 38 per kg against last week’s rate of Rs 32 per kg. While the prices of tori also witnessed an increase of Rs 10 per kg as this week it was sold at Rs 60 per kg.
Similarly, the prices of pumpkin jumped from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 60 and this week the prices of brinjal witnessed an increase of Rs 14 as it was sold at Rs 50 per kg against the previous week’s price of Rs 36. This week the prices of cucumber also witnessed an increase of Rs 10. This week it was sold at Rs 70 per kg.
The prices of some vegetables and chicken also witnessed slight decrease. This week chicken was sold at Rs 115 per kg than the previous week’s rate of Rs 117. In fruit section, the prices of most fruit items remained stable. However, this week the prices of bananas decreased, being sold at Rs 40 per dozen against the previous week’s rate of Rs 50.
