Vegetables From India Bring Much Needed Relief in Pakistan, Afghanistan

Vegetables like peas and tomatoes from India have flooded local markets in Peshawar and Afghanistan, giving relief to the common man by slashing the prices of vegetables by nearly half. These vegetables were in high demand in the local markets of both countries. Pea bags which used to be sold at Rs. 3,000 have now come down to Rs. 1,200, while the price of 22 kg tomato bags came down to Rs. 700. The prices of local tomatoes have been reduced to Rs. 200 per 12 kg.
 
President of Vegetables Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Malik Sohni Khan said that 'Adrak', 'Thoom' and 'Limo', which were earlier imported only from China, are now being imported from India as well. The trade with China for these commodities is approximately Rs. 200 million a month, he said. Malik Fateh Muhammad, a vegetable trader said that of the total 25 trucks of vegetables imported from India, ten were sent to Kabul while the remaining 15 were sold in Peshawar. According to him, the prices of vegetables decreased due to the arrival of Indian vegetables and had this not happened, the prices would have jumped manifold there.
 
Potatoes were also imported from India despite the fact its prices were low in the local markets, he said. The production of ginger has almost ended in Peshawar after its massive import from India. A 50 kg bag of ginger is being sold at Rs. 4,800 in the local markets.
 
Another dealer Anis said though the local farmers were affected from the import of Indian vegetables, it's giving much needed relief to the people.Saqib, a farmer, said that the vegetables imported from India have affected the entry of locally produced vegetables in the markets.