Rain and Landslides Disrupt Supply Chains, Cause Price Swings at Pune Market

Heavy rain and landslides across the Pune region have disrupted road transport and affected the supply of fruits and vegetables at Pune's Gultekdi Market for the past two days, leading to price fluctuations, traders reported.

A major disruption occurred on Monday when a landslide shut traffic completely on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's Missing Link corridor. Vehicular movement resumed only after more than 18 hours. The closure, along with continuing rain in areas around Pune, has squeezed supply lines from multiple directions, even as demand at the market has weakened. Traders say this combination has pushed prices in different directions depending on the commodity.

Wholesale rates of leafy vegetables have increased, said Atul Raykar, a vegetable trader at Gultekdi Market. “A bunch of coriander is now selling for Rs 36 to Rs 40, up from earlier levels, while spinach costs Rs 35 to Rs 40. Rates of fenugreek, dill, peas, and butter beans have also risen,” he said.

“The market is simultaneously facing a demand slump, even as supply has been hit due to connectivity issues. Tomato supply from Satara has been affected, while cabbage arrivals from Nasrapur and the surrounding region have stopped entirely since Monday. With roads closed, some farmers have also postponed harvesting, further stretching supply. The upcoming Palkhi procession is likely to dent already weak demand further,” Raykar added.

For fruits, however, prices have moved in the opposite direction. Yuvraj Kachi, a fruit trader at the market, said incessant rain across Pune has hit supplies, most of which are sourced from areas around the city that have been affected by the weather. But with demand also slack, rates have actually eased.

“Pomegranate supply is down by around 40 per cent, yet prices have fallen from the earlier Rs 80-400 per kg range to Rs 40-250 per kg. Custard apple rates have similarly dropped, from Rs 20-100 per kg,” Kachi said.

Suyog Zende, another trader, said, “The complete shutdown of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Monday hit supplies of fruit sourced from farther afield. Rates of Dasheri, Langra, and Chausa mangoes brought in from Uttar Pradesh have fallen from Rs 40-45 per kg to Rs 30-35 per kg, while prices of Kashmiri cherry, plum, and peaches have also dipped. Increased humidity is causing fruit to ripen faster, cutting into its shelf life.”

Zende further said guava and papaya supplies could suddenly increase by the weekend, once the Palkhi leaves Pune, as farmers have deferred harvesting in view of the currently weak market. “Rates of some vegetables, including bottle gourd and capsicum, have also dipped after farmers redirected stock originally meant for Mumbai to the Pune market on Monday, following the expressway closure,” Zende added.