Consumers in the national capital had to bear the brunt of the truckers strike as prices of vegetables and fruits rose by up to 13 per cent in the last week alone.

Disruption in the supply contributed to a rise in prices of most vegetables and fruits in the last week and a similar trend is foreseen in the coming days as well if the strike continues for the next week, traders said.

On last Monday, the day when truckers went for nationwide strike, both wholesale and retail prices in Delhi remained steady. However, they began climbing as strike prolonged for more than five days.

Consumers did not feel the heat of prices on the first day, but gradually had to pay more for some of the key commodities. According to the data maintained by Agricultural Produce Marketing Board (APMC), the maximum rise was seen in fruits followed by non-seasonal vegetables.

"Apple arrivals have decline to 50-60 trucks from usual 250 trucks a day. The oil strike also affected the supplies," Kashmir Apple Merchants Association president Metharam Kriplani said.

The wholesale prices of apple rose by over 13 per cent to Rs 47.25 a kg at the end of the week as compared to Rs 41.67 a kg in the previous week same period.

Banana, papaya and other fruits were also quoting higher by Rs one to three per kg. Even vegetables including onion, tomato, cabbage, and brinjal shot up in the range of Rs 1-3 a kg, the data said. Retail prices also showed a significant rise taking cues from the wholesale market.

According to APMC, Delhi, chairman J K Bansal, "The supply of fruits have marginally declined towards the end of the last week". However, to stop exorbitant hike in retail prices of vegetables and fruits, an APMC official said they are publishing the wholesale prices daily.

Meanwhile, poultry products also rose by over 34 per cent in the national capital as soyabean meal used as chicken feed became pricer.

The broiler price went up to Rs 58-59 a kg live as compared to Rs 44 a kg live on January 3, said Poultry Federation of India Treasurer Rickey Thaper.

Eggs remained steady more or less at Rs 2.29 per piece from Rs 2.20 a piece, he said adding the prices might go up if the strike continues as it is becoming extremely difficult for the farmers to transport the eggs and broilers to various
destinations.

Rates of soybean meal saw more than 27 per cent rise in a week to rule at Rs 17,200 a quintal on Saturday compared to Rs 13,500 a quintal on January 3, he added.