Vegetable supply to Mumbai from Nashik 60% down

NASHIK/KOLHAPUR: If you are seeing fewer vegetables and fruits in the city’s markets, it is because traders and farmers from Nashik and western Maharashtra are struggling to get labourers to work on the fields and transport farm produce to the state capital.
Nashik has a lion’s share of the vegetable market in Mumbai and sends across more than 500 tonne of greens daily.Nashik also supplies vegetables to cities in Gujarat daily.
Officials said the vegetables are sent to Mumbai from Nashik on 150 vehicles. Ever since the lockdown, the supply has reduced substantially. Only about 40-60 vehicles leave for Mumbai with 150-200 tonne of vegetables. This amounts to a 60% drop in supply.
Arun Kale, secretary of Nashik APMC, confirmed vegetable supply to Mumbai has been affected. “Covid-19 has badly hit vegetable supply to Mumbai. Vehicles are not allowed in most parts of the city.”
Traders said drivers and labourers are worried about travelling to Mumbai, which has reported several Covid-19 cases. There are also concerns about transport vehicles reaching Mumbai, considering all the permissions required and returning to Nashik. Also, with restricted hours of vegetable sale, they are unsure about the produce getting sold.
Farmers are counting their losses. Usually, three and half months from February are the peak period for vegetable crop.