a day ago
Veggie prices double as rain disrupts supply chain, ruins crops
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Bhubaneswar: With incessant rainfall affecting several parts of the state, vegetable prices in the city have skyrocketed due to disruptions in the supply chain caused by waterlogging, transportation hurdles and inundation of farmlands in many districts.
Prices of many vegetables, which are sourced from other states, have almost doubled in the last few days.
Several vegetables are being sold at over Rs 100 per kg. Beans are retailing at Rs 140 per kg, up from Rs 100 last week. Price of spine gourd has doubled from Rs 60 to Rs 120 per kg, while drumsticks now cost Rs 120, compared to Rs 100 earlier. Brinjal, pointed gourd, ridge gourd and cucumber have also seen a sharp rise in prices and are being sold at Rs 80 per kg.
"April to Dec is the off-season for Odisha's vegetable markets. We depend heavily on other states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal for vegetable supply," said Kabiraj Swain, secretary of vegetable vendors' association, Unit I wholesale market. "Due to rain, trucks are arriving late or getting stuck midway. Vegetables are also getting ruined during transportation, as bad roads and flooded fields have hit both supply and quality of produce," Swain added.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, beans, tomato and capsicum are sourced from Karnataka. Drumsticks and green chillies come from Tamil Nadu, while Andhra Pradesh supplies papaya, pumpkin and green banana. West Bengal sends the bulk of gourd varieties consumed daily in Odisha.
Vendors said vegetables are getting ruined sooner during monsoon, adding to the loss. "We are unable to stock vegetables in bulk as they get spoiled quickly.
Transport and labour cost also increases, pushing up retail prices," said Sushant Samantray, a vendor.
Several acres of farmland have been inundated in the heavy spell of rain for the last few days across many districts. Fields in vegetable-growing regions like Athagarh and Banki areas in Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Jajpur, and Balasore districts have been inundated, damaging crops.
With prices soaring, homemakers are finding it difficult to manage their monthly budgets. "A few months ago, I could get enough vegetables for the week within Rs 300. Now even Rs 500 is not enough. We are cutting down on variety and quantity," said Suchismita Das, a homemaker in Nayapalli.
Pradeep Sahu, a retired govt employee, said, "Even common vegetables like ridge gourd and lady's finger are now a luxury. Prices have doubled, but our income has not. And if one has guests at home, then the stock gets exhausted faster."
