Apple market looks up as strong dollar hits imports Farmers get higher prices for produce; apple rates rise by 20 to 25% Rakesh Lohumi Tribune News Service Shimla, September 22 The sluggish apple market has started to look up in the final phase of harvesting as imports have taken a hit due to the hardening of the US dollar. The rates in the Delhi market have zoomed up by 20 to 25 per cent over the past three days. The arhtiyas (commission agents), who were holding back in anticipation of large arrivals of imported fruit, have suddenly started contacting growers and offering higher prices to them. Consequently, the average price for good quality apple has increased to Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,400 per standard box of 20 kg. The world famous Kinnaur apple is fetching up to Rs 1,700 per box. There has been an increase of Rs 200 to Rs 300 per box for superior grades of fruit and Rs 150 to 200 per box for the lower grades. With the rupee hovering around Rs 65 to a dollar during the season, the import of apple is not an economically attractive proposition any more. In fact, the companies which imported fruit during summer from the USA and New Zealand suffered heavy losses due to the sharp fall in the value of rupee. The bumper crop in the state further dissuaded the importers and traders are now rushing to procure fruit to meet the demand for the ensuing festival season. Himalayan Fruit Growers Association chairman Rajiv Chauhan cautioned growers not to be misled by arhtiyas regarding imports and extract full price for their produce. The impact of upswing has forced the fresh fruit companies, which reduced the prices twice to Rs 35 per kg only last week, to effect an upward revision. Adani Agrifresh has increased the rate to 41 per kg and Dev Bhoomi and Gem Tree are paying up to Rs 43 to Rs 47 per kg. All companies combined have stored over 12 lakh boxes and it will be for the first time that all the cold stores will be full to the capacity at the end of the season. With less than 25 per cent crop yet to be harvested, the arrivals have dwindled and the number of trucks being sent out daily to various markets has come down from 1,200 down to 700. In all, 2.78 crore boxes have been marketed so far and 3.50 lakh to 3.80 lakh boxes are being transported out daily. Besides, over 21,000 tonnes of fruit has been procured under the market intervention scheme. The total production will be more than 3.50 crore boxes as assessed by the Horticulture Department. It would have been more, but for the freak storm which caused a huge damage to the crop in the apple belt in Shimla a week ago. TURNAROUND FOR BETTER Fresh fruit companies suffer losses on apple import due to sharp fall in the value of rupee Bumper crop dissuades importers; traders procure local fruit to meet demand of the festival season. Upswing in market forces companies to revise apple prices; farmers get up to Rs 47 a kg Superior grade apple price increases by Rs 200 to Rs 300 per box; lower grade by Rs 150 to Rs 200 per box
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 02:25:44 +0000