Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, April 19

The nationwide lockdown in the wake of Covid-19 is affecting fruit and vegetable growers of the district. While a strawberry grower is suffering a loss of over Rs1 lakh per day, several others dependent on vegetable cultivation are forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices.

‘Losing Rs 1 lakh daily’ Mere 200-250 kg of strawberry is being sold every day against the yield of 16 quintals per day. The wholesale price of the fruit is Rs100 per kg and I am suffering a loss of over Rs1 lakh each day. Paramjeet Singh, Strawberry grower

Paramjeet Singh, who has been growing four varieties of strawberry over 11 acres, said nearly 75 per cent of his crop was rotting in the fields. He said he didn’t pick the fruit due to negligible demand.

“As main markets are being opened partially and hotels and restaurant continue to remain shut, mere 200-250 kg of strawberry is being sold everyday against 16 quintal yield per day,” he said.

‘50% dip in demand’ The situation is grim, and growers and sellers are at the receiving end. Due to the lockdown, factories, colleges, schools and restaurants are closed, leading to a dip in demand by 50%. Rohit Anand, Commission agent

“The wholesale price of the fruit is Rs100 per kg and I am suffering a loss of over Rs1 lakh each day,” he said.

Vegetable growers and commission agents are also in dismay due to the lockdown. Jinder Singh, a progressive farmer from Sandhuan village, said he had sown bottle gourd, cucumber and capsicum, which he had to sell for Rs8, Rs12 and Rs15, respectively. He said it was less than half last year’s price. He said his brother grew spinach, but had to use it as fodder because all restaurants, major consumers of the vegetable, were closed.

Similarly, Gurinder Singh of Rurki village said he had cultivated cauliflower over two acres, which was being sold for mere Rs5 per kg.

Rohit Anand, president of the Ropar Sabzi Mandi Commission Agents’ Association, said the situation was grim and growers and sellers both were at the receiving end. He said due to the complete lockdown, all factories, colleges, schools and restaurants were closed, leading to a dip of over 50 per cent demand. “It has resulted in price crash,” he said.