Strawberry and vegetable supply chains in Maharashtra have been disrupted due to widespread flight cancellations and delays linked to the IndiGo aviation issue. The disruptions have reduced available air cargo capacity at Pune airport, delaying or halting the movement of perishable consignments.
Vendor Anil Yeole, who aggregates strawberries from about 45 growers in Mahabaleshwar, reports that none of his shipments have departed Pune airport for four to five days. Yeole said he normally moves 2.5 tons of strawberries per day to markets such as Kolkata, Chennai, and Guwahati and handles transactions worth Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per day, equal to about US$4,800 to US$6,000. He added that "if strawberries reach the airport at night, they must get to the destination and market by the next day to avoid damage," noting that there is no insurance for fruit, and growers absorb the losses.
According to Pradeep Kumar Singh, joint general manager (cargo) at Pune airport, "there has been a 55% dip in both inbound and outbound cargo movements since the IndiGo chaos began." Singh reported that the airport usually processes 180 to 190 metric tons of cargo per day, but volumes have fallen to 90 metric tons in recent days. International cargo remains unaffected due to the limited number of international flights operating from Pune.
Vegetable vendors have also been unable to ship produce for several days, forcing growers to sell at lower prices in local markets. Ravindra Wagh of Shreenath Agro said exotic vegetables such as iceberg, celery, parsley, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes are typically shipped by air cargo from Pune to various markets in India. He reported reduced orders and delays, explaining that "due to the flight issues, the number of orders has reduced, and it has affected the overall chain." He added that one consignment required 48 hours to travel from Pune to Bengaluru due to cancellations and reloading.
Sandip Bhosale, owner of SB Logistics, said that cargo disruptions have also affected automobile parts and vaccines. He noted that Pune is a key cargo hub for western Maharashtra, and many customers have had to cancel shipments or retrieve consignments to search for alternative transport options.
Source: Times of India
