After Onions, Potatoes Pinch Pockets In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: After soaring prices of onion brought tears to the eyes of consumers, now the prices of potatoes have also started to rise in Odisha adding to the woes of consumers.

While the price of potatoes was between Rs 20 and Rs 25 a few days back, the price of the kitchen essential has reportedly crossed Rs 30 in several places in the State.

According to sources, the price rise is due to unseasonal rain in potato growing area like West Bengal from where Odisha imports the tubers. The rain in the last couple of days have reportedly slowed down the harvesting, resulting in the price rise, said sources.

“Unseasonal rain had lashed West Bengal and farmers are now unable to lift new crops due to wet ground. The stock of old potatoes is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. Therefore, the price is rising,” said Debendra Sahu, secretary of Chhatra Bazaar Traders’ Association.

Besides, farmers in Odisha and Uttar Pradesh are unable to lift the new crops due to bad weather. It has led to the potato crisis, Sahu said.

“Now, we are waiting for favourable weather conditions to lift new crops. It will take about 15 days for new crops to reach the markets. Once the dry weather prevails, the price will become stable,” he added.

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