Bhubaneswar: Soaring vegetable prices during festival season have pinched pockets of consumers across Odisha. However, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Saturday attributed the rising prices, especially that of onion, to rainfall.
Speaking to reporters in Bhubaneswar today, the Minister said, “The prices of onion have risen due to heavy rain in different parts of the country. The price hike has been witnessed everywhere.”
Patra said that heavy rain has damaged crops, reduced yield and affected supply of onion from other states. This has led to a rise in prices of the vegetable in Odisha.
“It is a matter of few more days, and the situation will normalise soon. Once the cold storages under ‘Onion Mission’ are operationalised, the problem will solved,” the Minister added.
On Saturday, onion was being sold at Rs 60 to 65 in Bhubaneswar while the price of brinjal was 100 per kg and Pointed gourd was Rs 80 per kg. Similarly, tomato price in the capital city today was Rs 70 per kg, and spine gourd was sold at Rs 200 per kg.