Vegetable Prices Pinch Pockets In Bhubaneswar; Know Why?

Bhubaneswar: Consumers of vegetables are already feeling the price pinch even though the holy month of Kartika is yet to begin. Prices of veggies usually skyrocket during the Odia calendar month of Kartika when many families give up non-vegetarian food.

The prices of most of the vegetables which started increasing about a week back, shot up further as the Kartika month approaches.

Price of cabbage, brinjal and tomato have shot up by nearly Rs 30 per kg. Cabbage, brinjal and tomato which used to cost around Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kg, are now available for Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg.

Capsicum, which was available at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg now, are now selling at Rs 110 to Rs 120 per kg. Beans costs Rs 100 to Rs 110 per kg.

Prices of seasonal vegetable as also increased. Small size cabbage and cauliflower are now available in Rs 40 to Rs 50 and so is brinjal. The price of carrot is Rs 50 per kg.

The most essential item of kitchen, onion, is available in Rs 40 to Rs 50.

Citing rains as the reason behind the price rise, Nilamadhab Mohanty, a vegetable seller of Unit-I market here said, “Due to rain, vegetable farmers suffered heavy a losses. Moreover, the stock is much less than the demand.”

“Fuel price rise is another major reason. Petrol is priced at Rs 106.77 and diesel is Rs 105. Many vegetables are procured from outside of the state including Bengaluru, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. We are bringing some vegetables from Nayagarh, Phulnakhara and some other places in city outskirts shooting up our transportation cost further,” he added.

“Closure of hostels and colleges due to coronavirus is also another reason for the losses. With the government gradually opening the facilities, we hope this situation will improve soon,” said Mohanty.

“In the month of Kartika, we give more importance to the vegetables in kitchen. But, now it is hard to get any vegetable below Rs 50. We are yet to get quality seasonal vegetables. We are facing problem as our kitchen budgets have increased,” said Subhashree Jena, a homemaker.