Kochi: As the truckers' strike entered the sixth day today, vegetable dealers are using all alternative methods, including luxury coaches, tempo vans and even taxis, to transport essential commodities.

An acute shortage of vegetables, fruits and bananas is being felt throughout the country and the prices of these commodities continue to soar. With talks in New Delhi to find a solution to the truckers' demand failing, the situation is likely to worsen in the coming days.

The Kerala state government is also in the dock for not taking any steps to ensure the free passage of essential commodities to Kerala. This is in stark contrast to the measures taken by the Tamil Nadu government which allowed the TN Transport Corporation buses to carry the goods so that farmers do not suffer due to the strike, besides ensuring easy availability of essential commodities.

There is also a collapse of the wholesale market in the state as the three to four loads of vegetables that reach the main markets are not even adequate for retail sales. "The wholesale market for vegetables and bananas no longer exists. The supply of fruits has stopped altogether," says Mohammed Sharief, youth wing president of the Ernakulam Stall Owners' Association.

Sharief alleges that police officials manning the border are forcing the dealers to pay Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per vehicle as fee to allow the passenger vehicles into the state. "We are already paying a fortune as rent to transport vegetables to Kerala. Rather than allowing a free passage of goods to Kerala, police officials are trying to make some extra bucks."

The dealers say they are bringing the goods taking the risks of attack from goons allegedly employed by the truckers. Some tempos and mini-vans were blocked in Karnataka. The prices of vegetables brought from outside are: green chillies Rs 25 (Rs 8 before the stir), ladies finger Rs 20 (Rs 7), beans Rs 24 (Rs 13), beetroot Rs 16 (Rs 8) and tomato Rs 25 (Rs 14). These are set to rise further.

Fruits markets are depending on fruits like pineapple and mangoes supplied locally and there has been a complete shortage of grapes, oranges and apples. In the vegetable market, even the prices of locally grown bitter gourd, ash pumpkin and cucumber are rising.