People feel pinch as prices of cooking oil, vegetables, fruits soar

Govind Sharma

JAMMU, May 31: Amid restrictions imposed by the J&K Government to curb COVID-19 pandemic, rising prices of cooking oil, vegetables and other essentials have upset the kitchen of common man, particularly labour class, rehri and pheri walas and others whose kitchens run on daily earnings.
Due to restrictions imposed by the UT administration on opening of shops, markets and other establishments, daily wage earners including labour class, electricians, plumbers, barbers, etc and those working in small and big shops, showrooms, restaurants, hotels, dhabas and automobile workshops have become jobless. They have no work and no earnings and on the other hand, rising prices of essential commodities are burning holes in their pockets.
The price of mustard oil, which is a main constituent of the Indian kitchens, is touching sky. It is being sold at 180-195 per litre in retail market. Not only mustard oil, but the prices of all cooking oils have risen by Rs 50/60 per litre in last few months. The prices of pulses had also risen but in last few days, there is slight fall.
“With whatever savings we had, we had been feeding our families but as prices of cooking oil and other food products including vegetables and fruits have risen manifold, we are struggling to provide even two-time meals to our families, what to say of fulfilling other basic needs,” said Mahesh Kumar, a Tailor Master.
Shikha Kumari, a house wife said even seasonal vegetables like ladyfinger, bitter gourd, beans, brinjal and fruits like mango, watermelon, pomegranate, lemon and banana are out of common man’s reach. One kg of ladyfinger and bitter gourd are being sold in retail market at about Rs 40 and brinjal Rs 30 per kg and beans Rs 40 per kg while the mango is available at Rs 70-80 per kg, one piece of coconut at Rs 60-70, Kiwi at Rs 40-50 per piece, pomegranate Rs 100-150 per kg, banana Rs 60-70 per dozen and lemon at Rs 50-60 per kg.
“Edible oil prices have risen over 50 percent in last six months due to import issues in crude palm oil which is one of the raw materials for all type of oils available in the market. Moreover, the demand of Mustard oil has risen during curfew while the production of the Mustard seeds was very less this season,” said Anup Mittal, president, Kanak Mandi Traders’ Association. He said there seems no respite from the soaring prices of cooking oils unless Government imports enough crude palm oil.
Deepak Gupta, president, Ware House Traders Association said that the refined oil in wholesale market was being sold at about Rs 80-90 per litre around three months back and now its price is Rs 160 per litre. Similarly, he said, the price of mustard oil has risen by Rs 60 per litre during this period. He also attributed the inflation in oil prices to import issues in palm oil and low production of mustard in the country. He also held responsible the rise in MSP of the mustard seeds by the Government. The MSP of the mustard seeds was earlier Rs 40/45 per kg but now it has been increased to Rs 80 per kg, he added.
“The prices of fruits are a little bit high as the traders were not procuring the fruits in large quantity on account of Corona curfew,” said Devinder Gupta, president, Fruit Market Association, Narwal. He said similar is the case with vegetables. Gupta further added that some fruits like watermelon and mustmelon are very cheap in Narwal Fruit Mandi but taking advantage of the restrictions, some retail sellers are selling it on higher rates.
Gupta hoped that with opening of lockdown and removal of several restrictions by the district administration, the rates of the fruits and vegatables will certainly come down as all the shops will remain open for long hours.