Oman: Indian supply troubles raise fruit and vegetable prices
"We are already incurring nearly 10 per cent loss in our Indian vegetables business. The steep increase of 60 per cent in the air freight charges during the last few months has increased our woes. We'll not be able to supply Indian vegetables for a long time if this situation continues," said� Kanakambaran Nair, an Indian vegetable importer for the last three decades in the Sultanate.
He said the demand was there, but that he was unable to meet it at the prices consumers were willing - or able - to pay.
"Recently, we are compelled to pay some additional charges per tonne to the air carriers as well. I am able to survive only because the Indian vegetable business is of small proportion. Even if the situation turns worse, I won't stop it because I compensate my loss with the profit I am making on importing vegetables from other countries," he said.
However, it is not the same for everyone and there are reports of small importers having shut down their operations over the past two months.
At them same time as causing difficulties for the importers this problem is, of course, also affecting the consumer.
Speaking of the cost of Indian fruit and vegetables, one consumer said, "It has become unaffordable for the common man now."
A senior official from a hypermarket said that they always have a 'Plan B' to keep the price level of vegetables in control.
"We always have a backup plan. We don't want to put the burden on our customers. "We are concentrating more on bringing fruits and vegetables from the US and Europe now," the hypermarket official said, adding, "The prices of Indian vegetables are going up due to various reasons. We are helpless but we try our best to offer the best prices to our customers."
Source: timesofoman.com
