Bhubaneswar: Even as the holy month of Kartik has just begun, the prices of vegetables have soared in Odisha.
The devout Odias abstain from non-vegetarian food and depend on green vegetables for their daily diet during the entire month which begins after Kartik Purnima. But the prices of most of the vegetables have skyrocketed to the extent that a bowl of vegetable soup now costs more than a plate of non-vegetarian item.
With the prices of almost all vegetables going up, the Habishyalis who take food once everyday during the month find it a costly affair. For others, the option to go for relatively richer food like mushroom and paneer also pinches the purse.
Except potato and onion which cost Rs 25-35 per kg, most of the vegetables, now come for not less than Rs 70 a kg in the market. Brinjal, lady’s finger, tomoato, pointed gourd and carrot, which are high in demand, cost above Rs 70 per kg.
Similarly, yard bean costs Rs 80 per kg, cluster beans Rs 100, yam Rs 90, taro root (saroo) Rs 60, pumpkin Rs 30, and green banana Rs 10 per piece. While mushroom is sold at Rs 240, paneer price has crossed Rs 260 per kg.
According to the traders in daily market at Uni I in Bhubaneswar, there has been short supply from the farmers of the state as the crops have been damaged due to heavy rain and subsequent. “We have to import the vegetables from outside the state like Bengaluru, Kolkata and Raipur to meet the demand which sees a spike in the month. Since we have to pay for transportation charges, the prices naturally go up,” said a trader.
“The price rise of vegetables has nothing to do with Kartik month. We are not increasing the prices for our profit. It all depends on supply irrespective of the month,” said another trader of the market.
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