While the farmers have resorted to ‘panic harvest’ fearing crop loss in view of the impending cyclone, the retail and wholesale markets in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar saw spiralling prices of vegetables on Thursday.
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.
Several market observers said that the retail markets in the Twin Cities have witnessed a much higher footfall this Thursday morning compared to other Thursdays.
“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.
On the other hand, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) that formed over central parts of Andaman Sea and neighbourhood now lies as a Well Marked Low over southeast Bay of Bengal adjoining Andaman Sea.
“It is likely to move west-northwards and concentrate into a Depression over southeast Bay during next 12 hours & further intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over Central Bay during the subsequent 24 hours,” informed the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar.