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SURAT: The indefinite strike by farmers in Maharashtra has sent prices of vegetables soaring in the Diamond City.

Residents in the Diamond City woke up to a steep hike in prices of vegetables on Saturday following the farmers’ strike in Maharashtra since Thursday for a loan waiver and better procurement mechanism for their produce.

The prices of tomatoes, which were sold at Rs 15 per kg, shot up to Rs 50 per kg. Almost all the greens including lady’s fingers, bitter gourd, beans, brinjal, papdi, cauliflower, cabbage, etc, saw an increase of Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kg.

Vegetable vendors believe that the prices of onions are also likely to rise to over Rs 60 in the next two days following short supply from Nasik.

Manaram, a vegetable vendor at the vegetable market at Palanpur Patia , said, “There is a farmers’ strike going on in Maharashtra. So, prices of vegetables have gone up in the city.”

However, another retail vegetable vendor Rakesh Patel said, “There is a nexus going on in the wholesale market. The merchants are controlling prices. We know there is a strike in Maharashtra, but merchants are taking benefit of the situation to earn huge profits.”

Nilima Sridhar, a housewife who had come to purchase vegetables at Palanpur Patia market, said, “I could not believe when I was told that the tomatoes are available for Rs 50 per kg. Just two days ago, I bought them for Rs 15 per kg. I mean, this is way too difficult for us to manage our kitchen.”

Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) secretary Nilesh Thorat told TOI, “Around 80% vegetables, including tomatoes and onions come from Nasik and other parts in Maharashtra.

The strike is going on for the last two days over various demands by the farmers. The supply of vegetables has been affected and this may have spurred the prices in the retail market. We have heard that the strike by farmers has been called off on Saturday morning after Maharashtra chief minister accepted most of their demands. It seems that prices will come under control in a day or two.”

