Food prices remain steady despite truckers strike

Prices of food items, including coarse cereals, vegetables and fruits, are reported to have remained steady in the wholesale market across the country even as the truckers strike entered its third day, today.

According to the data published on the agmarknet.Nic website, maintained by the Agriculture Ministry, prices of most food articles were ruling steady, showing no impact of the strike on prices.

Prices of most varieties of wheat and rice were unchanged, except jowar and basmati rice that ruled lower by over 28 per cent at Rs 900 per quintal and Rs 3,000 per quintal from the previous day level.

A similar trend was seen in the prices of fruits and vegetables. Prices of apples, orange, pomegranate were ruling steady, while there was a slight increase in papaya and guava rates today, the data showed.

Apples were available at Rs 5,000 per quintal, orange and guava at Rs 1,500 per quintal respectively in the wholesale market across the country.

Interestingly, among vegetables, tomato, potato, onion, carrot, methi, brinjal and raddish were down by Rs 50-100 per quintal from the previous day's level, the data said, noting that the price range of commodities are at national level.

Prices of onion stood at Rs 1,700 per quintal, tomato at Rs 595 per quintal and potato at Rs 650 per quintal, it said.

Meanwhile, prices of eggs and chicken broilers saw a marginal impact as supplies of key poultry feed ingredients - soyabean meal and maize - were hit hard by the strike. Prices of eggs were flat, while chicken broiler rose by Rs 6 in the national capital.