India, March 20 -- Disruption in Gulf-bound exports due to the war in West Asia has triggered a crisis at the Vashi APMC fruit market, with returning consignments flooding the yard and traders struggling to make space for fresh arrivals from farms. Prices of staple summer fruits have crashed, with watermelon taking the largest hit, selling for as low as Rs.6/kg in the wholesale market compared to Rs.30-35/kg around two weeks ago.

"Consumption of watermelon was expected to rise because of the summer heat and Ramzan. Accordingly, large quantities are being brought into the market everyday from Solapur, Sangli, Beed, Latur and Jalgaon in Maharashtra and horticultural belts in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh," said Vijay Bhardwaj, a wholesale f...