Rising prices of onions have brought tears in the eyes of Vizagites making them seethe with anger.
Short-supply and massive hoarding has led to increase of onion per kg price to Rs.52 at Rythu Bazaars and Rs.65-Rs.75 in the open market on Monday.
Consumers who resorted to panic buying in the wake of reports for further intensification in agitation in support of Samaikyandhra agitation from Tuesday were in for a shock when they found the price of onion jacked up to Rs.52 at all the 12 Rythu Bazaars.
At departmental stores it was available at Rs.65-Rs.75 per kg.
Of an estimated sale of 100 tonne a day in the city, which mostly brought from Nasik of Maharashtra and Kurnool, 40 tonne is consumed at the Rythu Bazaars – where it is sold at a reasonably less price.
Assistant Director of Marketing P. Ravi Kumar told The Hindu that delay in arrival of fresh crop from Kurnool and damage caused due to incessant rain in Maharashtra, there was short-supply. Further, there is also dislocation in supplies due to the ongoing agitation against bifurcation.
Taking advantage of the situation, sources said, some unscrupulous traders have resorted to heavy hoarding. “There is policy paralysis with the government failing to introduce market intervention to control the prices. What will be the plight of common man with the skyrocketing prices of vegetables and essential commodities,” opined Rammohan Rao, a lecturer in a private college.
Housewives were seen cursing the powers-that-be for its failure to check the prices at Rythu Bazaars. “There is late production in Kurnool and short-supply from Nasik, which have led to increase in prices. Even in Maharashtra and across the country, there is abnormal increase in the prices,” pointed out Estate Officer at MVP Rythu Bazaar G. Prasad.
The demand for locally grown onions called desi onion (smaller in size) increased significantly.
They were priced at Rs.40 a kg.
Vegetable prices
The list of vegetable prices at various Rythu Bazaars as follows: Chilli Rs.65 brinjal (white) Rs.30, black Rs.26, lady finger Rs.20, beans Rs.38, capsicum Rs.72, bottle gourd Rs.18, parval Rs. 28, Teisel gourd (akakarakaya) Rs.88, carrot Rs.15, tomato Rs.18, gherkin Rs. 20, Colacasia (chema dompa) Rs.22 and ridge gourd Rs.18.
The open market price on each item was higher by Rs.5 to Rs.20 per kg depending on size and quality compared to the Rythu Bazaar rates.
