The ongoing tensions in Middle East/West Asia due to conflict in between USA-Israel and Iran are expected to hit the trades of dates and other dry fruits in Chhattisgarh as well as entire country especially in current period of Ramadan month. The major suppliers of dates and many other dry fruits in country including Chhattisgarh are Iran, Kuwait and Qatar and this current tension or war is affecting the supply chain of dry fruits too. However, traders in Raipur and other major parts of the Chhattisgarh said that majority of them have imported sufficient stock of Dates and other dry fruits from West Asia before starting of Holy Ramadan and it is expected to meet the demand in this month and also in next month. But if the war persists further, it would lead to shortages and price of these products will also see a rise as like of LPG cooking gas cylinder from May in all over State. “Every year before the start of Ramadan, we have imported enough stock of dates and other dry fruits from Middle East.

 

We used to get these products from Middle East first through sea connectivity and then in land connectivity from Maharashtra. In March and April months, we will handle the demand of dates and dry fruits. But if the war situation continues in Middle East, business will become tougher and traders as well as customers will have to suffer a lot” pointed Nadeem Khan, major trader of Dates and Dry Fruits from gulf countries into markets of Urban Chhattisgarh. In Ramadan, it is mandatory to eat dates and majority of the people like to prefer dates of Iran and Kuwait, because they are softer. Apart from dates, anjeer, saffron and other major dry fruits are also imported from Iran. But the current situation of war in Iran has affected the supply and in upcoming months, due to shortage of supply, people will see a rise in the prices of these products. Akash Khandelwal, another trader of Dates and Dry Fruits stated that over 550 traders are directly connected with this business in all over state ad if price sees a rise, then many of them will lose their work snd business.