Sambalpur: Vegetable Price Struggle Continues; Tomato Price Still Above ₹80, Most Vegetables Over ₹60
Sambalpur: For several months now, the rising prices of vegetables have been a constant source of stress for consumers. Essential items like potatoes and onions, along with other fresh vegetables, have become so expensive that people are afraid even to think about buying them. The situation has worsened to the point where vegetables, which were already rare on the plates of the poor, have now become unaffordable for the middle class as well. As a result, households are struggling to prepare meals and are forced to rely on dry items like chickpeas, potatoes, and soy chunks.
Prices Out of Reach
For months now, fresh vegetable prices have climbed far beyond the reach of ordinary people. Potatoes, which were hovering around ₹50 for some time, have now dropped to ₹40. However, onion prices remain between ₹50 and ₹60. Despite the gap of just a month, tomato prices continue to remain high, touching ₹100 and showing no signs of dropping below ₹80. For almost two months, tomato prices have remained sky-high. Not just tomatoes, most other vegetables, except for leafy greens like spinach and amaranth, are selling above ₹60.
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Other Vegetables Follow the Trend
Eggplant prices have recently dropped from ₹80 to ₹40 per kilo. Vegetables such as ridge gourd, pointed gourd, okra, and cauliflower remain expensive, ranging from ₹60 to ₹80. Cauliflower and other new arrivals remain priced above ₹100. Similarly, cabbage is priced at ₹60, while taro has increased to ₹80. Green chili costs between ₹250 and ₹300, while capsicum is priced at ₹160 and carrots at ₹120.
Spices Add to the Burden
On the other hand, essential spices, like garlic, continue to sell at high prices, with no reduction from ₹320. Ginger, however, has seen a slight drop, from ₹200 to ₹120, as new produce enters the market. Despite this, the continued high prices of vegetables and spices have led to increasing concerns among consumers. With months of price hikes, there are growing complaints that while farmers and consumers suffer, traders are profiting heavily from the situation due to the lack of government intervention.
