Only 20% trucks turn up at APMC market

The unnerving yet relatively calm atmosphere that prevailed across the city all through Thursday over the health of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, led farmers and traders at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) to take preemptive measures to avoid possible losses again yesterday. On normal days, the APMC market witnesses between 550 to 600 trucks arriving to drop off vegetable stock, but yesterday saw only 110 vehicles turning up after some persons went on the rampage early on Thursday morning after rumours and misinformation regarding Thackeray's health did the rounds.

Low count: Only 110 trucks arrived at the APMC market yesterday

Left with Thursday's stock and being unable to sell any of it all day, APMC traders asked farmers not to send any more produce fearing that trade
was likely to be hit again yesterday.

Babulal Gupta, a trader at the APMC market, said "We could not do proper business on Thursday as some goons created havoc at the market during the wee hours. We were left with a huge stock of unsold vegetables as a result. The stock would have got spoilt if it was not sold and so we asked farmers not to send any fresh stock for Friday."

Although only 110 trucks arrived at the APMC market yesterday, vegetable prices remained normal in retail markets. APMC officials claim that prices could possibly fluctuate depending on the situation over the next few days.

Avinash Patil, deputy secretary of APMC market said, "Prices of vegetables will remain normal on Friday and Saturday, as enough stock has reached the retail markets. However, we cannot say much about prices being affected over the next few days." u00a0

Vegetable trucks
Yesterday
APMC market: 110
Retail markets: 280

Thursday
APMC market: 328
Retail markets: 124