Veggie prices up by 50 per cent

Ministry of Economy has attributed the high prices of vegetables and fruit in the UAE to several large shipments being rejected due to high chemical content in them.

The cost of some vegetables has increased by 50 per cent and a ministry official was quoted by Emarat Al Youm as saying, “The currently wave of unbelievable high prices of vegetables and fruit is not only affecting domestic markets, but has hit a number of neighboring countries.”

“The precautionary measures which prevented the entry of contaminated shipments of various vegetable products has also led to a scarcity of some items,” the source was quoted as saying.

The prices of cucumber witnessed an increase of between Dh5-6 per kg.

The prices of local and Omani zucchini now range between Dh8 and 10 per kg, up from Dh5-6.

Also the Indian tomato has increased to between Dh6-7 per kg, compared to previous prices ranging from between Dh3-4.

According to traders at the Fruit and Vegetable market in Awir, the hike is a result of non-availability of the product.

“Tomatoes are usually imported from Jordan and Syria. But because the production levels there have dropped, the prices have more than doubled,” said Abdul Jaleel of Pan Viet Foodstuff.

Onions, which used to be sold for Dh1.5- 2.5 per kg is now selling at Dh4-5 per kg.

Similarly ginger, which used to cost Dh35-40 per 10-kg box is now being sold at Dh95-100.

“Ginger is mainly imported from China and as the reason for the increase was a drop in exports,” said Ahmed Mousa, another whole-sale trader at the market.

The cost of curry leaves, an ingredient mostly used by Indians to prepare curry meanwhile continues to remain high as imports from India is restricted to high percentage of pesticides. It is now mostly shipped from Oman and is priced at Dh12 instead of Dh6.

Irshad Mohammad, a trader said that the vegetables price rise are imposed by supplier companies from countries of origin.

He added, “Weak supply of some products from Jordan, Lebanon, Oman and Syria have contributed to the high prices.”

Meanwhile, traders also said that the situation is expected to ease by Christmas and New year.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.