Skyrocketing prices of vegetables and grocery items hit common man’s budget in Odisha

The price hike in vegetables and many grocery items has taken a heavy toll on the pockets of the poor and middle-class people in Odisha.

Common people in the State are finding it hard to make ends meet with their limited budget due to the soaring prices of essential food items like green vegetables, rice, dal and some spice items.

Meanwhile, the Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Association has stated that the myopic vision of the government is responsible for the exorbitant price rise. As per the consumers in the State, it will be difficult to survive if the prices of essential food items don’t come down soon.

The market prices of rice, wheat, dal, cumin, fennel, ginger and garlic have picked up galloping inflation. The prices of both raw and parboiled rice have increased to 700-800 per quintal in the last three months. The rice which was available at a price of Rs 25 per kg before three months has experienced a price rise of over 10 per cent and is now available at Rs 32-35 per kg. As per reports, the price of rice has touched all-time high for the last 11 years.

Meanwhile, the price of arhar dal has gone up from Rs 100 to over Rs 150 in a very short span of time. Similarly, the prices of moong, chana and black gram dals have also soared.

Moreover, prices of many spice items like cumin, fennel, ginger, garlic, black pepper, and cardamom have made those beyond the purchasing capacity of the common man. Cumin was available at a price of Rs 250-350 per kg before two and half months. 
However, its price has now skyrocketed to Rs 700 per kg. Moreover, the prices of ginger and garlic have soared over Rs 300 and Rs 200 per kg respectively. Similarly, the prices of wheat-made products like flour, refined flour and semolina are also on an upward curve.

“It has become too hard to manage a house as prices of both vegetables and grocery items have skyrocketed. We are afraid to purchase tomatoes. How will we survive in the current market situation? We request the government to take necessary steps to reduce prices of essential food items,” said Kirtimayee ojha, a housemaker.

Though, Odisha is considered among the largest rice-producing states in the country, the current state of inflation has made both the common consumers and businessmen worried. As per reports, Odisha produced 46.14 lakh metric ton of rice in 2000. Gradually, the amount increased and was multiplied 2.5 times to 115 lakh metric tons by 2022. However, the government is still not able to control the price rise of rice. As per the Federation of All Odisha Traders’ Association (FAOTA), the supply policy of the government is responsible for the exorbitant price rise.

“Three months ago, the price of rice was Rs 2500-2600 per quintal in the market. Now, the price has soared to Rs 3500 per quintal. The prices of ginger and garlic are also increasing. Government should discuss and plan a strategy to control the galloping inflation,” said FAOTA Secretary Sudhakar Panda.

Meanwhile, as per Cuttack Chambers of Commerce, big malls and stores are responsible for the exorbitant price rise in the market.

“Big stores and malls are collecting essential food items right from the harvesting season and hoarding those in large quantities. It is the main reason behind the increase in price rise,” said Prafulla Chhatoi, General Secretary of Cuttack Chambers of Commerce.

Meanwhile, in a little respite to the customers, the prices of green vegetables have come down a little bit in the market. With Rs 150 per kg, tomato is still the costliest vegetable. Though brinjal, bitter gourd, parwal, ridge gourd are seasonal vegetables, all of those prices are above Rs 50 in the market. While green chilly is being sold for over Rs 200 per kg, the price of beans is Rs 150 per kg.

As per the retailers, the wholesale prices of different vegetables are higher at Unit 1 hat in Bhubaneswar and Chhatra Bazar market in Cuttack. This is why they are forced to sell those products on higher rates as well.

“Except onions and potatoes, almost all vegetables are being sold at higher prices. Even the prices of seasonal vegetables are higher. We are forced to purchase vegetables despite higher rates as we cannot compromise with our basic minimum need of food,” said Lipisita Mohanty, a customer in Bhubaneswar.

As per wholesalers, the prices of vegetables will come down in the market after the supply of new harvests.

“Locally harvested vegetables will be available in the market shortly after rain. Then the price of the vegetables will come down a bit. However we will have to wait till August for tomato prices to come down,” said Debendra Sahu, Secretary of Chhatra Bazar Vegetable Traders’ Union.