By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Following a basic economic principle of higher the demand higher the prices, fruits rates are soaring during the holy month of Ramazan. In Mumbai, regular fruits like watermelon, apple and banana are costing nearly 15 to 25 percent more these days.
The month of Sharavan, when Hindus also observe fast and eat fruits and vegetables only, coincided with the holy month of Ramzan this time and thus soared the demand for fruits further resulting in the rise in prices.
But the prices this time did not rise just because of demand and supply pressure. Mahesh Agarwal, Manager of a Mall in south Mumbai, admits, “before the beginning this week when Ramzan and Sharavan started, the prices of fruits went northward in speculation and there is not short supply of fruits.”
Dr. Irfan Siddiqui complained that it’s a routine of every Ramzan. “In this holy month everyone tries to fast and feed better to their family. Although one can break roza with dates or water but we opt for fruit because it is high in water content as well as light on the stomach after a hard day’s abstinence,” said Siddiqui.
In south Mumbai, regular apples are selling for Rs 110 per kg, up from Rs 80. Papaya has risen by Rs 15 per kg in a week and is selling at Rs 40 per kg. Custard apple and pomegranate have risen by Rs 20 too and are now available for Rs 130 per kg.
Not too far away, across the Kalina-Kurla belt, papaya has risen to Rs 40 per kg, up from last week’s price of Rs 25. Fuji apples, the ones individually packed in net cases, have risen by Rs 20 to Rs 150 per kg. Pomegranate is selling for Rs 80 a dozen, perhaps the only fruit left affordable owing to increased supply.
Even the fruits considered to be cheaper like watermelon and banana are up. Rs. 80 for a watermelon and a dozen bananas will cost Rs.40.
Another thing that added to spiraling prices is the harassment of civic and security officials. Suhail, a vendor in Mohammed Ali Road said, “Mohammed Ali Road is declared as dangerous zone, even the parking are disallowed this time due to the fear of terrorist attack and therefore we have to move to other place.”
Another vendor Salman complained that “we are forced to raise prices because of increased domestic expenditure as well as harassment by civic officials. They organize retail rates to cover the increased cost of living and losses due to confiscation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abu Asim Azmi, MLA of Samajwadi Party has demanded the Chief Minister of Maharashtra that subsidized fruits should be made available for Shivajinagar Muslims, who are very poor, in Ramzan to perform their religious duty. Shivajinagar is the eastern suburb of Mumbai where the cases of death due to malnutrition are reported.
Already reeling under inflation, specially in food prices, the devout have to resort to bananas and watermelons or in near future to the dates and water only.