Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): The Odisha government has attributed the recent increase in prices of vegetables and some essential food commodities to adverse weather conditions, crop damage and broader developments affecting markets at the national and international levels.
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Responding to questions from Opposition MLAs in the Odisha Assembly, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said the price movement was part of a wider trend being witnessed across India.
The minister said unfavourable weather and flood-like conditions in key vegetable-producing regions had affected crops and contributed to higher prices of several vegetables. He also referred to marginal increases in the prices of pulses, edible oil and onion.
Odisha Prices Below National Average for Several Commodities
According to figures cited by the state government, retail prices of several commodities in Odisha remain below the national average.
The government said arhar dal is 3.13% cheaper than the national average, while moong dal is lower by 4.15%, chana dal by 3.90%, biri dal by 1.75% and potato by 31.87%.
At the same time, prices of some commodities were reported to be higher than the national average. Edible oil prices in Odisha were stated to be around 2.5–3% higher, while onion and sugar prices were 4.96% and 0.48% higher, respectively.
Government Steps Up Market Monitoring
The minister said the government was keeping a close watch on the prices and availability of essential commodities across major markets in the state.
Stock declarations submitted by dal and sugar millers, wholesalers and retailers through the government’s monitoring portal are being scrutinised, while field-level officials are conducting physical verification of declared stocks.
The department and its Market Intelligence Branch are also carrying out inspections to detect and prevent hoarding, black marketing and profiteering, the minister said.
Onion Sold at Rs 35 Per Kg
Amid the increase in onion prices, the state government has facilitated the sale of onions at Rs 35 per kg through mobile vans at different locations, with support from NAFED and NCCF.
The government said the measures are aimed at maintaining adequate supplies of essential commodities and preventing unfair market practices.
The issue of rising food and vegetable prices was raised in the Assembly by MLAs, including Dhruba Charan Sahu and Prakash Soren, among others, prompting the government’s response on the factors contributing to price fluctuations and the steps being taken to regulate the market.
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