Monday, 27 November 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
With the commencement of the wedding season, the caterers have expressed their concern regarding the high prices of vegetables in the city. The auspicious occasion of Devuthani Ekadashi, which was celebrated by the people on November 23, marks the beginning of the wedding season which continues until December. In view of this, numerous caterers in the city have opined that as the wedding season draws near, the government and the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) tend to raise the prices of vegetables. The heightened demand for vegetables during the wedding season is cited as the primary reason for the surge in prices, said those in the food catering business.
Many vegetable vendors in the city have also stated that the sudden surge in demand attributed to the ongoing wedding season has propelled the prices upwards. Dwelling on this issue, senior inspector at APMC Ajay Dabral said that it is generally observed that vegetable prices tend to rise during the wedding season. This is due to the increased demand for vegetables during this period, leading to a decrease in supply and consequently causing the prices to rise. However, once the wedding season comes to an end, the prices of vegetables usually decrease, he added
Commenting on the rise in vegetable prices, a food caterer Kesar Rawat said, “Every year, when the wedding season approaches, the government or APMC raises the price of vegetables. Further, they increase the price of vegetables to twice the normal rate. As a result, many caterers suffer losses during the wedding season, which is a major opportunity for us to earn a profit.”
He further added that the government should inspect the local marketplace as retailers also overcharge for vegetables. Additionally, the government should establish a vegetable counter in the market offering produce at reasonable rates during the wedding season, he said.
Another caterer Darshan Paul said that for them, the wedding season is the main time for earning. However, during this period, the prices of vegetables rise significantly due to increased demand. Customers often set their rates without being aware of the inflated prices of vegetables. As a result, they sometimes incur losses while catering food during the wedding season. Given these circumstances, it is imperative that the government takes some favourable decisions on their behalf, he added.
