Interestingly, despite the rising fruit prices, the consumption and demand of fruits have gone up.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away! The proposition may not be viable as the cost of keeping the doctor away has increased in the range of 25% to 50% as compared to last year. Moreover, traders predict an increase of 10% to 20% with the beginning of the wedding season.
Interestingly, despite the rising fruit prices, the consumption and demand of fruits have gone up. And the credit goes to increased awareness among Amdavadis.
Looks like people have become more health conscious. Adverse weather conditions have affected fruit production which has increased the gap between demand and supply. The result is price hike.
Shyamlal Rohra, president of Ahmedabad Wholesale Fruit Merchants' Association said, fruit production is going down year by year because of climate change.
"For the last three to four years no fruit in India has witnessed 100% productivity," he added.
Rain has played spoilsport in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir this year. Hence, the next season will turn out to be bad for farmers as well as traders.
Losses incurred by Indian cultivators will turn into profit for foreigners. Many fruits, in particular apple, is imported from New Zealand, Australia and USA in huge quantities. Last year per day consumption of imported apple in the city was 30-45 tonne, which has now increased to 105-120 tonne, added Rohra.
Traders say that fruit prices may witness hike of 10-20% with the onset of the wedding season which begins from the last week of April. There is a trend of setting up a special counter for fruits," said Kamal Murjani of Kamal Fruits in Kalupur.
Caterers usually use kiwi, sweet tamarind, Chinese apple, Chinese pear, grapes along with local fruits like Indian apple, sweet lemon, orange, watermelon and muskmelon. As a result the price may see another jump, he said.
The higher price of imported fruits may induce caterers to either cut down the number of fruits served or use cheaper fruits such as watermelon and muskmelon.
Mango, the king of fruits, may arrive late in the marker due to the change in weather conditions. All varieties of mangoes will be available one month late, Rohra said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}