Vegetable sellers feel that cyclone Phailin is the main cause for the skyrocketing prices of the vegetables in the open market. Heavy rainfall has badly damaged the crops in the state and its adjoining areas. Short supply of vegetables and breaking of road communication had suddenly shot up the prices so much that it is going beyond the reach of common people.
Onion sells at Rs 60 a kg, Potatoes Rs 30 a kg, Cauliflower Rs 45 a kg, beans Rs 24 a kg, Cabbage Rs 32 a kg, Tomatoes Rs 32 a kg. leafy vegetables which include coriander leaves Rs 120 a kg, Spinach Rs 80 a kg has also increased to a great extend.
A vegetable-seller at Nagababa Khatal Raju Kumar said, “Common vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbages, ridge guards and guards are brought in from Bihar. Due to Phailin flood like situation occurred there as a result of which majority of crops got destroyed. This had created a huge gap between demand and supply.”
According to vegetable sellers the prices will not come down unless the gap between demand and supply is curtailed. looking at the present scenario it doesn’t seem that vegetable prices will get lower in the near future. Soaring prices have worsened the woes of residents here. The heat of price is specially felt by middle and low income groups. Green vegetables have vanished from their plates and people are forced to eat potatoes as it is only feasible for them.
A housewife Sushmita Sengupta expressing her plight in managing her monthly budget said, “My husband regularly shouts on me for not serving varieties in his meal. Sometimes he even goes for work without having food. On the other hand, the prices the vegetables are not showing any sign of flipping down in near future.”