THE GOAN NETWORK
BELAGAVI
Vegetable supplies to Goa have been streamlined after authorities permitted wholesale traders to keep the market open the entire day, but wholesalers have now lamented over declining demand from Goa.
Panic prevailed in the wholesale vegetable market for over a week after the Karnataka government announced a night curfew, followed by a weekend curfew in the state.
Confusion among traders and farmers resulted in the closure of wholesale vegetable market on Saturday and Sunday last week, due to which supplies not only to Goa but the entire region were affected.
Taking advantage of the situation, retailers made a bounty by suddenly increasing the price of vegetables.
Confusion among traders and farmers further increased on Monday when the Karnataka government announced a 14-day lockdown till May 12. With restrictions imposed, traders were in a quandary as to how they would continue supplies to Goa amid the lockdown.
“However, after discussions and deliberations with authorities, we have been permitted to keep trading activity open from 10 am to 5 pm,” said Diwakar Patil, president of the Belgaum Wholesale Vegetable Market Association.
“This will help us in supplying vegetables to Goa,” he added.
Patil, however, lamented that demand from Goa has been declining due to the rising Covid situation which has affected hotels and restaurants in the coastal state.
The situation is no different in Belagavi as only parcel services are allowed in the city and people are afraid to move in the city.
“The yield of vegetables is very good hence the supplies are better but due to poor demand, farmers are reluctant to take their yield to the wholesale market and instead, prefer to sell them directly,” said Patil.
The wholesalers have continued to face hardships as they are forced to sell vegetables in the open space or along interior roads of the APMC wholesale market, as the entrance to the regular galas has been sealed.
