With the prices of vegetables touched the sky in the recent days in Odisha capital, it caused much concerns for the consumers putting additional burden on their monthly budget. Not a single vegetable produce is being sold less than Rs 50 per kg in the state capital. The prices of vegetables are likely to increase more in the coming days. While Brinjal is being sold at Rs 50 per kg, the prices of Parbal are more than Rs 60 per kg in markets across the city. Even the tomato rate is higher than petrol price that is available at around Rs 63 in Bhubaneswar. The prices of tomato rose to Rs 80 per kg. Similarly, the prices of other vegetables including Bitter Gourd, Raw Banana, Beans, Long Beans, Drumsticks, Lady’s Fingers, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Ridge Gourd are found above Rs 60-70 per kg. According to reports from various vegetable markets in the city, decline in vegetable import has led to increase in prices of vegetables in Odisha. Vegetable traders opined that as the vegetable production on outskirts of Bhubaneswar and its adjacent areas has declined considerably, we are now depending on other districts and states for vegetables. The prices will be increased more in upcoming days in the city. The situation is expected to continue in next two-four weeks, said a vegetable trader in capital city. The minimal quantity of vegetables import and scarcity of cold stores in Odisha are another factors for price hike of vegetables in the city during monsoon. We are depending on other states for tomatoes, said another trader. The price rise of all the vegetables in the city has directly hit the kitchens causing trouble for the homemakers to manage household work. “The price rise in all the vegetables is a direct hit to our kitchen. We cannot afford to buy large quantity of vegetables for which the family members especially patients suffering from diabetes faces difficulties to have in their daily diet,” said Mamata Biswal, a homemaker. “We are managing with pulses and potatoes as we cannot buy vegetables at higher prices,” said homemaker Sanjukta Sahoo. “The prices of vegetables rise during monsoon every year. If we had facilities to store the vegetables during winter, there would not have been such situation,” said a woman. The Odisha Suntimes Bureau ; 13th. July,17
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