Truckers' strike starts pinching farmers, consumers

MUMBAI (Reuters) - A strike by Indian truckers, into its second day on Thursday, has begun to pinch Indian consumers and farmers as fruit and vegetable prices jumped 10 to 30 percent in wholesale consumer markets, traders said.

In producing markets, prices have dropped by up to 10 percent following a halt in movement of goods, traders said.

Millions of Indian truckers went on an indefinite strike on Wednesday to protest against high taxes and rising fuel bills, union leaders said, adding that a meeting with the transport ministry had failed to resolve the dispute.

"It is only the second day of strike. If it continues, then we can see real impact, which would be much painful, in next three four days," said Kapil Chawla, a wholesale fruit and vegetable trader based in Azadpur, Delhi.

Azadpur is the biggest fruit and vegetable market in the country.

Prices of fruits such as mango, pomegranate and banana and vegetables like onion, cabbage, potato, tomato and brinjal have risen sharply in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, traders said.

However in Mumbai, prices were almost steady as truckers in the western state of Maharashtra did not join the strike.

"Prices of all commodities are almost steady. We are receiving almost same quantity, which we were receiving two days back," said Shankar Pingle, a large trader from the Vashi market near Mumbai.

However, prices in wholesale producing markets, where farmers bring their produce, have started easing as traders lowered purchases on fears of longer strike.