Traders and officials from companies supplying vegetables and fruits have reported that precautionary plans have been put in place to support the stability of prices for vegetables and fruits, ahead of and during the Ramadan season, and to ensure a large supply of products. They explained to 'Al Ittihad' that the precautionary plans include increasing the supply of vegetables and fruits by large quantities, ranging from 15% to 25% compared to normal periods. They noted that markets are expecting additional shipments in the coming days, in addition to the production of local seasonal farms that significantly support the supply in sales outlets and increase the diversification of import sources. They confirmed that the prices of some vegetables are being sold in the local market at lower rates than their countries of origin due to increased supply, higher competitiveness, and the abundance of local seasonal products in the markets. In detail, a member of the Dubai-based Vegetables and Fruit Suppliers Group, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the commercial group 'Farzana', Mohammed Sharif, said: 'The local markets are currently witnessing a great abundance of products that are being sold at suitable, low prices, especially with the increase in supply volumes by 15 to 25% compared to normal periods, ahead of and during the month of Ramadan.' He added: 'Markets are witnessing a significant abundance of supply and price stability for various types of vegetables and fruits, and this is expected to continue throughout the holy month.' He explained: 'Among the positive and notable indicators of the abundance of supply and stability in the markets is the decrease in the prices of some vegetables compared to their main countries of origin.' On his part, the Executive Director of 'Mirak' Food and Vegetables Supply Company, Issa Najib Khouri, said: 'There are preparations and precautionary plans that support the abundance of supply and price stability for vegetables and fruits ahead of and during the month of Ramadan.' He added: 'The factors and plans that support the abundance of supply and price stability include increasing the supply of vegetables and fruits by up to 25%, in addition to expanding the diversification of supply sources from different countries to provide large quantities of supply.' He pointed out that 'the abundance of local seasonal agricultural products greatly supports the markets and provides a diverse supply in all local sales outlets', noting that 'the reasons for the decrease in the prices of some imported vegetables compared to their countries of origin largely stem from the increased abundance of supply.' In the same context, vegetable trader Mohammed Mansour said: 'There are three factors that support the abundance and price stability of vegetables and fruits ahead of and during the month of Ramadan, including increasing supply by about 20% compared to normal periods, in addition to increasing the supply of local seasonal products of various kinds, and increasing the diversification of import sources for vegetables from different countries.' He confirmed that 'selling some vegetables at prices lower than their counterparts in their countries of origin is due to the large abundance of supply in the markets during the current period, whether through increased supply or local seasonal agricultural products circulating in the markets, which makes some traders offer these products at low prices.'
