Onions sell at double the wholesale price

Bhubaneswar: The prices of potato and onion have increased over the last one week. The tuber, which was sellling for Rs 20 a kg is now priced at Rs 24. Similarly, onion prices have jumped from Rs 14 to Rs 20 a kg. Market insiders said though there is no short supply of these essential commodities, retailers have hiked the prices due to lack of proper control by the government.
On Thursday, the wholesale price of potato was Rs 1,650 a quintal while in the retail market it was selling for Rs 24 a kg. Similarly, the wholesale price of onion was Rs 1,100 to 1,200 but the retail price was almost double at Rs 20 a kg. "The state governmewnt has failed to regulate the market prices. Had the government put up display boards of wholesale prices in every shop, customers would not have been cheated. Besides, it is also the mistake of consumers who don't bother to ask the wholesale price of commodities," said general secretary of Odisha Byabasayee Sangha, Sudhakar Panda.
Retailers denied the allegation and blamed it on short supply from neighbouring states. "The supply of potato has reduced over the last few days. Consumers are quite aware nowadays and won't keep quiet if we increase the price on our free will," said Kartika Sahu, a vendor in Unit-I market.
Sources said the state requires about 10 lakh metric tonne of potato every year but produces only 2.5 lakh metric tonne and imports the rest from West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Similarly, Odisha produces 3.95 lakh metric tonne onion a year against the present requirement of 2.32 lakh metric tonne.
"All steps taken by the government to increase production and storage facilities in the state have failed. Besides, prices of all vegetables are going through the roof for the last few weeks making life difficult for the common man.