JEYPORE: Prices of tomato in Koraput district have risen sharply from `30 to `100 per kg though it has no direct link with the new tax regime. Tomato was selling at `30 a month back. Residents of Jeypore, Koraput, Damanjodi, Sunabeda and Kotpad are faced with the problem of skyrocketing prices of vegetables.
Since last week, the supply of vegetables such as cabbage, brinjal, tomato, beans and cauliflower to the local markets has dropped leading to the shooting up of prices for the first time after the onset of monsoon this year.
While tomato is sold for `100 per kg, brinjal is sold at `40, cabbage at `40, cauliflower `60 and beans `60 per kg. To add to the woes, the vegetables are stale.Sources said about four lakh urban population of Jeypore, Koraput, Damanjodi, Sunabeda and Kotpad depend on local vegetable markets round the year. Most of the vegetables are procured by local vendors from Borrigumma, Potangi and Semiliguda areas where a large number of farmers cultivate vegetables to meet the local demands.
While the daily requirement of vegetables in Jeypore, Koraput, Damanjodi and Semilguda is about 100 tonnes, now only 30 to 40 tonnes are available fuelling the price hike. Market sources said the vegetable crops in the district have been damaged due to heavy rains for the past several days. However, the residents alleged that the traders have stocked the vegetables for creating artificial scarcity to make a fast buck.
Meanwhile, members of several citizen committees and public representatives have urged the district administration to intervene in the matter.Sources said about 10 officials of district civil supply department have been engaged to monitor the price rise in local markets, including prices of essential commodities. But they are focusing on rice procurement in the district, locals alleged.Despite several attempts, District Civil Supply Officer Ballav Charan Dash was unavailable for comment.
Rayagada residents too feel the pinch
Rayagada: The prices of vegetables have skyrocketed in Rayagada district too. For the first time, the price of tomato has touched the J100 mark while 250 grams of tomato costs J30 in the retail markets. Retailers and wholesalers say that the price of tomato will keep hovering around the same rate for some more days. Similarly, cauliflower is selling at J60 per kg while capsicum is sold at J80 per kg, carrot J50, beans J70, brinjal J40 and drumstick at J90 per kg.