A TEMPORARY ban on imports of fruits and vegetables from Kerala has affected vendors and customers alike in Bahrain, it has emerged.
The clamp, imposed following an outbreak of a deadly virus in the southern Indian state, has led to a severe shortage of Indian vegetables in the market.
This has not only resulted in an increase in prices of certain Indian vegetables, but it has also dampened preparations to celebrate Onam – the harvest festival of the state that is marked by its signature vegetarian feast called the Onasadya.
The ban was imposed by Bahrain’s Agriculture and Marine Resources Affairs directorate on May 23, after a rare brain-damaging virus claimed 17 lives in Kerala.
Officials had then declared the outbreak of Nipah (NiV) virus as an emergency, comparing it to Ebola.
The main host of the disease is the fruit bat, with the virus being transmitted through secretions from the bat to the fruit that it feeds on or touches.
Mangoes, dates and bananas are the bat’s most preferred fruit. There have been cases of transmission of the disease among humans and between humans and animals as well.
“The ban has not been lifted as yet as the directorate is awaiting confirmation that (Kerala) has been declared clear of Nipah concerns by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” said a senior directorate official, who requested anonymity.
“The Indian ambassador has presented a request to officials to lift the ban.
“Correspondence is continuing between Bahrain and Indian governments, especially the Kerala state government.
“As per procedures, the directorate should get a clearance certificate from the responsible government that it has been cleared by the WHO.”
However, on August 7 the WHO reported that no new NiV cases or deaths have been reported since June 1 and, as of July 30, human-to-human transmission of NiV has been contained in Kerala.
“There is a scarcity of all Indian vegetables in the market, and we depend on what comes from the neighbouring GCC countries, mainly the UAE,” said Indian vegetable shop owner Salam Mabattumoola.
“This has been the status ever since the Nipah virus outbreak in May.
“The prices of all vegetables have also gone up, by at least 200 fils per kilogramme.
“There is usually a huge demand for vegetables during Onam, for the grand feast (Onasadya), but this year people are hesitant to buy because of the rise in prices.
“There is a shortage of many vegetables such as ladies’ fingers (okra), bitter gourd and cucumber – which the community prefers to have from Kerala.
“Banana leaves too are an important part of the Onam feast; a packet of 100 pieces is currently priced at BD4.200, up from BD2.500 last year.”
Onam is traditionally a 10-day celebration in August which includes cultural performances, floral display and the Onasadya, which features more than 20 vegetarian dishes, served on banana leaves.
“Keralites celebrate both Onam and Eid alike and the sale of vegetables and fruits is usually high during this season,” said M Nazar a salesman at Al Fanar Vegetable Shop in Manama.
“Unfortunately, the ban has affected the sales badly – there is a severe shortage of banana leaves this year, which is important during the Onam season.
“We learn that all other GCC countries have lifted the ban; we hope Bahrain officials also do the same.”
Nipah is contagious and currently has no vaccines for humans or animals. Its natural host is a fruit bat of the Pteropodidae family, according to the WHO.
The GDN reported in May that four tonnes of mangoes and bananas from Kerala were destroyed by the plant wealth directorate officials at the Agriculture and Marine Resources Affairs.
It was dispatched to Bahrain before the ban was imposed and was burnt at the Askar landfill.
Bahrain’s Health Ministry had earlier confirmed there had been no suspected cases of the NiV in Bahrain.
This followed concerns after Bahrain resident Sajeesh Puthur lost his wife Lini, a nurse in Kerala, to the virus on May 21.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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