Unable to cope with the cost of transporting produce to Mumbai, Dasheri farmers in north India are now supplying to neighbouring states
Lovers of Dasheri mangoes may soon find it harder to get their sweet fix, with the supply of the popular mango variety dwindling in the city. Fruit traders at APMC said that supply has fallen by almost 70 per cent, as Dasheri farmers in north India shift their market focus to states closer to them.
During the season, around 25 to 30 trucks bring in mangoes to the APMC market every day, a number which has now dwindled to just three or four trucks a day. File pic
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Dasheri mangoes are mostly sourced from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with the most famous varieties grown in Maliabad and Lucknow. However, Dasheri farmers are struggling to cope with the cost of transporting the produce to Mumbai, and are instead selling them in neighbouring states now.
“The supply of Dasheri mangoes in Mumbai is reduced to a great extent. The main reason behind this is that farmers are getting the same price for their produce in neighbouring areas like Delhi, Punjab and Bihar," said Deepak Jaiswal, the owner of Jaiswal International fruit shop at APMC.
These mangoes are currently available for Rs 30-Rs 40 per kg in the wholesale market. The figure is fairly high when compared to last week’s wholesale rate of Rs 18-Rs 25 per kg. In the retail market, Dasheris are sold for anywhere between Rs 50-Rs 70.
Dasheris usually start arriving in the market from the month of June and are available till the end of July or the first week of August. Popular for their sweetness, they are preferred the most after the Alphonso variety.
Usually during the season, around 25 to 30 trucks with Dasheri mangoes arrive in APMC on a daily basis. Each truck carries over 900 boxes, each weighing 10 kg. However, traders revealed that since the past few days, the supply has trickled down to only three to four trucks a day.
Tilak Sharma, another fruit trader, told mid-day, “The supply could further decline, as Dasheri mangoes have stopped coming from Maliabad and Lucknow. Now, the fruit comes from Saharanpur and would be available for the next 15 days.”
Sanjay Pansare, the director of APMC fruit market, commented on the shortage of the mango variety in the market: “Usually, by this period the Dasheri season ends. Low supply has led to fluctuating prices, but one can expect some supply in the next few days.”
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