Amid ridiculous statements of some of the Bollywood actors in favour of Pakistani actors working in Indian films, the vegetable traders in Gujarat have decided to stop supply of vegetables to Pakistan in the wake of tension on Indo-Pak border. The patriotic traders showed their mettle by bearing sizable economic loss as vegetables worth `3 crore used to supply to the hostile neighbouring country daily from Gujarat.
The collective decision of Gujarat traders came from the platform — Ahmedabad General Commission Agent Association.
Everyday more than 50 trucks used to supply 10 tonnes of vegetables — predominantly chilly and tomato — to Pakistan through Wagah border. But, for the past three days Gujarat suppliers decided to stop business with the neighbouring country citing tensed situation, said secretary of the association Ahmed Patel, adding that it was for the first time in almost last two decades Gujarat traders ceased supply to Pakistan.
The Gujarat traders are firm on not supplying vegetables till the relations between the two countries become normal, said Patel. Though the traders would continue supply to other neighbouring country Bangladesh, Gulf Countries, South Africa and Canada where large quantity of vegetables are being exported on regular basis from the State.
Not only commission agents, farmers (tomato growers) in Kadi tehsil in North Gujarat's Mehsana district have also joined the bandwagon of not supplying tomato to Pakistan. Farmers here united and opposed exporters, who came to purchase tomatoes for supplying to Pakistan and rejected good prices offered to them, said Dasrath Patel, a tomato grower.