While the threat of cyclone Jawad looms high on Odisha, vegetable prices have gone sky high due to panic marketing by the consumers. Moreover, the farmers have raised a panic fear over huge loss of crops due to the impact of cyclone. The demand of vegetables in twin city of Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar have increased in the last couple of days to pile up the stock in and after landfall. Thereby the high demand have caused the prices of essential commodities including vegetables going sky high.
Potatoes were being sold between Rs 40 and 50 per three kilograms two days back but today it has increased to Rs 70. The rate of onions has increased by Rs 5 per kilogram and it is now being sold at Rs 35. Other common vegetables like tomato, pointed gourd and beans are priced at Rs 60 per kilo, said reports.
“The market is crowded today as the residents want to stock up for the next three to four days and the trades are taking the opportunity of it by selling vegetables and other commodities at high rates. Rates had decreased two days back but most of the veggies are being sold around Rs 70 and Rs 80 now,” said a buyer at Chhatra Bazaar in Cuttack.
Meanwhile, the traders attributed the price rise to the lack of supply from West Bengal in view of the cyclone
“As there is a cyclone threat to Odisha, people are buying potatoes in bulk as they fear its price might rise after the cyclone makes landfall. This has resulted in the rise of its prices,” said a trader.
