This season, city is hardly nuts over nuts

While demand for dry fruits at Crawford Market in SoBo is surging in the wake of the festivities, Navi Mumbai traders say rising food prices have weaned away their customers, plunging their sales for the first time

It's that time of the year when festivals beckon you to splurge on that rich ingredient almost intrinsic to any communal celebration in the country.

And, going by the sentiments across the city, one wouldn't really know whether the demand for dry fruits is trending upward or otherwise.

Dates are the most sought in the month of Ramzan. And the Khilmil dates from Saudi Arabia, being sold at Rs 440 for a kg, have everyone's attention.

Contrastingly, the demand for dry fruits is leaping to the bottom at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Vashi.
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The steadily increasing graph of inflation has weaned customers away, even with the string of festivals underway. Wholesale traders at APMC say it is a never-before lull they are experiencing this season.u00a0
But business is plum downtown.
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Champak Kirloskar, a vendor at Crawford market, said, "Now that Ramzan has started and Ganpati and Gokulashtami are coming up, people are thronging the market to buy dry fruits. Most customers are buying dates for their fast.
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The shopping for the Hindu festivals will start in another 10 days."

Mohammad Tuglaq, a customer said, "I brought 1 kg of dates for Rs 400 a month ago and now the same variety costs Rs 550. At this time, the shopkeepers have the upper hand and they can quote any price, as they know people will buy the dry fruits."

The sales for dry fruits are high in general and vendors expect them to surge further as other festivals come up.

Back at the APMC, shops wear a forsaken look. Pravin Dedhia, a wholesaler at APMC, said, "I have seen such a low demand for dry fruits in this market for the first time.

Though Ramzan has started, we haven't seen an increase in sales. I believe it is due to the scorching prices.
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The common man is spending most of his earnings on his daily ration, leaving no money for dry fruits." Prices of cashew nuts have increased by not more than Rs 20-30 per kg while that of dates, raisins, and almonds have remained unaltered, added Dedhia.

A wholesale trader, Ketan Kesharwala, said, "This year, the dry fruit market is facing 50 to 60 per cent lower demand as compared to last year."u00a0

Sweets get dearer
To make the celebrations even dearer, milk prices have once again affected sweet preparations. "With the ongoing festival season, the hike in milk price does not bode well for buyers. It will definitely impact the pockets of end consumers. The price of mawa, used for preparing almost all the sweets, has already gone up by 20 per cent," said Pradeep Jain, general secretary, Sweet Association.

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