Bhubaneswar: Tomatoes, which were available at Rs 40-50 per kg two days ago, are now being sold at a price of Rs 80-100 per kg in different markets of Odisha.
According to traders, the retail price of tomato was Rs 80 per kg in Unit-I vegetable market of Bhubaneswar while it was Rs 90 per kg at Cuttack’s Chhatra Bazaar and Balasore urban market.
The price of the vegetable has reached Rs 100 per kg in Berhampur and Bhadrak.
Even in some places, the price has gone beyond Rs 100 per kg, the traders said.
All these prices are in different markets in the urban areas or district headquarters and price would be much more in the rural markets, they said.
The sudden price hike has impacted the consumers. While some chose to buy much less quantity as compared to other days, others stopped buying it.
“Two days ago, I bought a one kg tomato at a price of Rs 50. But, today, the price increased to Rs 90. So, I chose to buy half kg as it is essential for my kitchen,” said Nibedita Behera, a housewife of Cuttack CDA area.
Similarly, Manasiwni Panda of Bhubaneswar said she returned home from the vegetable market without buying tomatoes after knowing about the price hike.
The price hike in the source markets in Karnataka is the reason behind the sudden increase in the price of tomatoes in Odisha, said Debendra Sahu, secretary of the Chhatra Bazar Traders’ Association.
“At present, the vegetable is not growing in Odisha. So, we import it from Bengaluru. Due to the adverse impact of rainfall, the production has been affected there and price was also increased. In accordance with the import price, we are selling it here,” Sahu said.
IANS