Unseasonal rains drive vegetable prices up in Kendrapada | Bhubaneswar News
Kendrapada: Four days of unseasonal rainfall has severely damaged vegetable crops across Kendrapada district and neighbouring areas, causing a sharp spike in vegetable prices.
Vegetable prices have nearly doubled in local markets, with cauliflower jumping from Rs 25 to Rs 40 per kg within a week. Similarly, carrots and ladies’ finger earlier selling at Rs 25 a kg, are now priced at Rs 40 and Rs 45 respectively.
“Large tracts of crops, including radish, cabbage, cauliflowers, ladies finger, and beans have been damaged by the incessant rain,” said Parikhata Patra, a local vegetable grower from Pattamundai. He expressed concerns about potential disease outbreaks in crops and damage to early-sown potatoes and groundnuts due to increased groundwater levels.
The unexpected rainfall has created a significant demand-supply gap in the area. “Normally, prices decrease during winter, but the untimely rain has devastated standing crops, pushing prices upward,” said Jiban Sahoo, a vegetable vendor in Kendrapada.
Many farmers have been forced to harvest premature crops to minimise losses, according to Rajat Behera, a vegetable seller from Pattamundai. The situation has worsened as large tracts of vegetable fields remain waterlogged, causing crops to rot.
Umesh Chandra Singh, a local farmers’ leader, criticized authorities for their inadequate response to recurring crop losses due to floods and irregular rainfall patterns. Farmers have demanded proper assessment of crop damages by the government.
Responding to the situation, additional district magistrate Nilu Mohapatra said, “We have directed block agricultural officers to submit damage assessment reports. These will be forwarded to the government for further action.”
The district administration is currently evaluating the extent of losses faced by vegetable growers in the region.
Vegetable prices have nearly doubled in local markets, with cauliflower jumping from Rs 25 to Rs 40 per kg within a week. Similarly, carrots and ladies’ finger earlier selling at Rs 25 a kg, are now priced at Rs 40 and Rs 45 respectively.
“Large tracts of crops, including radish, cabbage, cauliflowers, ladies finger, and beans have been damaged by the incessant rain,” said Parikhata Patra, a local vegetable grower from Pattamundai. He expressed concerns about potential disease outbreaks in crops and damage to early-sown potatoes and groundnuts due to increased groundwater levels.
The unexpected rainfall has created a significant demand-supply gap in the area. “Normally, prices decrease during winter, but the untimely rain has devastated standing crops, pushing prices upward,” said Jiban Sahoo, a vegetable vendor in Kendrapada.
Many farmers have been forced to harvest premature crops to minimise losses, according to Rajat Behera, a vegetable seller from Pattamundai. The situation has worsened as large tracts of vegetable fields remain waterlogged, causing crops to rot.
Umesh Chandra Singh, a local farmers’ leader, criticized authorities for their inadequate response to recurring crop losses due to floods and irregular rainfall patterns. Farmers have demanded proper assessment of crop damages by the government.
Responding to the situation, additional district magistrate Nilu Mohapatra said, “We have directed block agricultural officers to submit damage assessment reports. These will be forwarded to the government for further action.”
The district administration is currently evaluating the extent of losses faced by vegetable growers in the region.
