JAMMU, JUNE 3: Sugarcane Juice is considered best, affordable in summer season and it is available in every nook and corner of the city but vendors are feeling difficult to make both ends meet as supply of sugarcane is less in the Narwal Mandi-the largest wholesale market of fruit and vegetable. Owing to its high cost of sugarcane, many traditional vendors have shifted to other professions and juice kiosks have decreased in the city.      
 Vendors said the bundle of sugarcane comprising 13 pieces earlier used to cost Rs 100 to Rs 150 but now it has soared up to Rs 350 excluding transportation charges, upon the quality of sugarcane. The vendors are eagerly waiting for the prices to comedown so that they can earn an honourable living. If prices remain the same, they will have to hike the price of juice by almost 50 percent.
 One of such vendor in Gandhi Nagar area, Raman Kumar said, “It will not be wise to increase rate of Sugarcane Juice because it may divert the customers. There is also opinion among the traders that the rate will comedown in coming days with lowering down of temperature in Jammu”. He added that due to increase in the rates, there was less earning, despite having rush of customers many times.
 Radhika and her friend Sohani, both 12th class students, expressed their love for sugarcane juice in summer season. “It is cool, healthy and refreshing drink at affordable prices. Where will one get fresh juice at just Rs 10” they said. 
 Madan Sharma-a farmer from Jhiri area said, “Now that the sugarcane crop is almost over but some farmers have stocked the sugarcane for summer season”. To meet the demand in Jammu, sugarcane is imported from Punjab and other neighboring states.
 Sham Langer, Vice President Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and also president Vegetable Traders Association, Narwal Mandi said, “The rates of sugarcane have been increased due to increase in demand many times. As the season for sugarcane has passed and traders are finding it difficult to meet the demand”. He added that heavy demand and less supply of sugarcane has resulted in hike in prices. Normally, there is demand of four to five hundred trolleys, which has almost doubled, he further added.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST