Andhra Pradesh: Rainy Days Deep Fruit Lovers Away

 Visakhapatnam: The importance of fruits and vegetables in a balanced diet is well known. However, the decreased consumption of fruits, caused by ongoing rainfall and damp weather conditions, has led to a drop in demand for locally-grown fruits in the market.

The latest National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) Household Consumer Expenditure Survey for 2022-23 indicates a substantial increase in expenditure on high-value items, such as fruits. In rural areas, fruit expenditure rose from 6.18% in 2011-12 to 9.01% in 2022-23. Similarly, it increased from 8.91% to 10.54% in urban areas over the same period.

However, the practical implications differ. The impact of weather on fruit consumption has caused a decline in the demand for locally-grown fruits, contradicting the findings of the NSSO survey.

Wholesale merchants face challenges in selling locally-grown fruits and also storing these perishable items has become difficult. As a result, wholesale fruit buyers are hesitant to purchase them.

The heavy rains have reduced the demand for sweet limes and guavas, while custard apples are abundant in the market with no buyers.

S. Naidu, a fruit seller at MVP Rythu Bazaar, has noticed minimal buyers despite Rs 50 per kg. “I stopped going to the wholesale market as I saw fewer local fruit buyers. Apart from this, preserving apples, plums and pomegranates is difficult in this weather,” Naidu says.

Kanuri Panduranga Rao, a long-time wholesale fruit seller in the Purna market, told Deccan Chronicle, "I purchase fruits from Odisha to Vijayawada, but I have reduced my purchases as the continuous rains significantly decreased fruit buyers in Rythu Bazaars and private markets. This has made it challenging for retailers to sell the local fruits, which has affected our wholesale market." Panduranga Rao said that locally-grown fruits were usually cheaper and consumed by lower-income people. Still, due to the rain affecting their jobs, they are not coming to markets.

He states that continuous rain has significantly cut short the daily wages of workers. As a result, they, who usually consume local fruits due to affordability, now rely only on rice and lentils.