The prices of vegetables skyrocketed in the city on Friday, as commission ag-ents of all wholesale vege-table markets — Bowenpa-lly, Madannapet, Mir Alam, Moosapet, Kushaig-uda, Gudimalkapur — went on strike.
Even the retail vegetable markets of Secunderabad Monda, Madannapet and Mir Alam remained closed on Friday. Retailers in lanes, bylanes, supermarkets and ‘Rythu’ bazaars had stocked their vegetables a day in advance and sold them at a premium.
“If the markets are closed, then vegetables in retail markets must be costing a bomb,” said B. Sreenivas, a resident of Mayur Marg.
Retailers and push-cart vendors in gated communities on Friday sold beans at Rs 72 to Rs 78 per kg, carrots at Rs 56 to Rs 62 per kg, lady’s finger at Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg, tomatoes at Rs 36 per kg and potatoes at Rs 28 per kg.
“All our retailers purchased additional stocks on Thursday. Though we were not certain how long the strike would continue, we couldn’t buy more, as vegetables are perishable,” Suma Latha, a vegetable vendor said.
Supermarkets like Relia-nce Fresh and Food World sold vegetables at daily rates.
The Joint Action Comm-ittee of the Vegetable Commission Agents of Twin Cities called off the strike in the evening. Penta Reddy of the JAC said, “All markets will reopen on Saturday, except the Bowenpally market. The agents of Bowenpally market will continue the strike till June 4, persisting with their demand for cancellation of 39 licences issued to new agents in violation of rules.”