Rising vegetable prices burn holes in consumers’ pockets

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Bhubaneswar: With the onset of the holy month of Kartik and the state facing rains even in October, vegetable prices in the Capital city have skyrocketed. Traders have predicted that the rise will continue for a month with prices set to increase further.
With tomatoes being sold at Rs 80 per kg, beans at Rs 100 per kg, pointed gourd (parval) at Rs 80 per kg, capsicum at Rs 100 per kg, the vegetable prices are burning a hole in the pocket. While onion prices have become stable at Rs 50 per kg, prices of almost all other vegetables have witnessed a rise between 30 to 50 per cent.
“The prices have increased mainly because of excessive rainfall the state has received. This coupled with the beginning of Kartik month of the Odia calendar where consumption of non-vegetarian food is considered a taboo, have contributed to rise in prices of the vegetables,” said Ramakant Sahoo a local vegetable vendor here at Rasulgarh.
A report of the state Revenue and Disaster Management department has said that Odisha received 9.9 per cent excess rainfall between June 1 and September 30. While the state received deficit rainfall in June (31.5%) and July (9%) it received in excess during months of August (24.5%) and September (53.7%). This has put an adverse effect on the crops leading to short supply of vegetables in the market.
Furthermore, traders have also suggested that the prices will continue to remain high during the transition period from Kartik to Margashir. The supply for vegetables is reported to be lagging behind the demand owing to excess rains and the rise in prices will continue for another month.
Consumers, who are bearing the brunt of bloated price, have complained that the sharp rise is burning holes in their pockets, “Increase in price during Kartik month is nothing new but this year the surge has been unprecedented and outrageous. The government should intervene and set a standard rate,” said Susanta Behera, a resident here.
However, some of vegetable vendors here were of the opinion that the high prices will remain for just this month and will eventually see prices coming down to normal. “With the winter setting in, there will be a number of vegetables in stock and the prices will start dipping,” said Sukanti Chand, a local trader here.