Unseasonable rains and tempestuous winds from earlier this year played havoc on the mango produce this year. Creating a shortage of supply amidst a usually high demand, the pricing policy has created a burden on both vendor and customer.
K Janardhan, executive authority of Kothapet fruit market explains that in the current scenario, there has been an overall 20 per cent reduction in the total produce leading to prices going up by five per cent.
“Everyday about 6,000 to 10,000 vehicles arrive, each carrying 10 tons of mangoes. However, there is 20 per cent reduce in the produce from last year. Exports though has remained at 80 per cent, consistent with the past several years,” he tells us.
Banganpally and Totapuri mangoes, which make up for 95 per cent of the stock coming in, have always scored the top spot among traders and commissioned agents in terms of exports. But as far as city sales matter, the hike in prices hasn’t particularly benefited them.
“Selling mangoes in the city is a hassle,” replies Ramesh, a local trader who has been in the business for the last 30 years. “In the city, we have to pay `350 to a driver to transport the goods to individual retailers. The maximum we can sell in a day is not more than 600 kg. Moreover, dealing with policemen results in shelling out a few more hundreds.” Agreeing with this Simayya, a commission agent for the past 40 years, adds, “What we dispatch today will reach only after three days and the market may go through ups and downs during this time. What we lose at one place, we will gain in another. Even transportation in bulk is cheaper. Besides we can sell a kilo worth `30 for `60 in northern states.” Simayya sells approximately three tonnes of mangoes everyday which he brings in from districts like Krishna, Ananthapur, Nalgonda, and Mahaboobnagar.
Small time traders though who come to the city with a huge load, have their share of complaints. “We rent a lorry to get mangoes to Hyderabad, but when we get here, we are at the mercy of agents, the mediators,” rues Jagapthi, a distraught trader from Mahaboobnagar. “They sell our stock to local traders at low rates. Unable to take back the stock, we are forced to agree to this. Mediators make a commission on what they’re able to sell while local retailers hike prices. It’s us who are at a loss.”
Local retailers have priced the fruit at anything between `30 and 70 per kilo, and this doesn’t seem to be affecting their business. “Despite starting my business a week late, I see the same kind of demand as last year,” shares Sher Khasim, who operates from a small stall outside Secunderabad railway station. “Why would it?” asks Najeer Hussain, a vendor from Mettuguda, who sells at `50 per kilogram as opposed to the `30 he sold at last year. “People are willing to pay a little extra for this seasonal fruit and we will cash in on it.”
Customers, for their part, are also feeling the brunt. A drop in the availability has also forced them to buy at places they wouldn’t usually, and at a higher price.
“Unlike previous years, my mother bought raw mangoes from a neighbour’s farm this year at a discounted price,” says Sirisha, from Ghatkesar.
Those who feel tempted to buy cheaper priced mangoes aren’t reaping any benefits either. “On impulse I bought mangoes for `30, but that ended up being a bad experience. They were neither sweet nor sour,” says Ramya, who bought mangoes at a market in Chintal Basti.
“I’ve noticed a decrease in road-side mango vendors,” shares Vijay from Kuhaiguda, adding, “This automatically makes me buy mangoes from Food Bazaar, even though their prices are slightly higher.”
Forced to spend more, quality for obvious reasons is trumping quantity. Tushara who bought mangoes between the price range of `30 and `60, feels that the highest priced fruit is the best bet, but that isn’t necessarily easy on her wallet.
“Seeing the spike in mango prices, I was tempted to buy the lowest priced batch. Possibly in the last week I may cut down on my purchases, but as of now I’m willing to spend a little extra to eat the best quality mangoes,” says the resident of Bowenpally who suggests mangoes sold near Ganesh temple at Paradise are a must-try.
