BALASORE: With people of the region switching to leafy vegetables for the ongoing Kartik, the prices have soared by 20-50 per cent. And the consumers, already struggling with the family budget, are helpless in the face of market forces that dictate the prices.While brinjal is being sold at Rs 30 a kg, lady’s finger, beans and pear gourd are available for Rs 40. Bitter gourd is Rs 30 a kg, tomato Rs 30, beans Rs 40, string beans Rs 60, cabbage Rs 20, carrot Rs 40, cauliflower Rs 40 a piece and green chilly Rs 60 a kg.The vegetables are costlier in Bhadrak market with lady’s finger being sold for Rs 60 a kg and spinach at Rs 100 followed by brinjal, pear gourd and bitter gourd at Rs 40, beans Rs 60 and tomato at Rs 50 a kg respectively. In Baripada, things are a little better with brinjal priced at Rs 20, tomato Rs 35, pear gourd and beans at Rs 40, cabbage Rs 20, capsicum Rs 80 and carrot Rs 30 a kg.The prices of vegetables usually remain low during this season with new crops flooding the market but the floods devastated major vegetable-growing districts and neighbouring states resulting in the spiraling trend. Potato has become a staple diet in most homes. “Earlier, we used to buy half a kilo of everything but now have cut it down to 250 grams,” said Gadadhar Das, a daily wager.Traders said the price fluctuation is a result of seasonal variation in domestic production. They, however, anticipate a further increase during the ensuing wedding season. Sridhar Behera, a trader, said the pricey vegetables have dampened business with consumers becoming frugal.Attributing the price rise to short supply, president of Perishable Goods Association, Ajay Kumar Biswal said, “The prices would remain high and there is little hope of a let-up with the wedding season round the corner,” he said.
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