Fish replaces pricey vegetables on menu

BALASORE: The steep rise in vegetable prices has people of Balasore and Bhadrak instead opt for non-veg items. Fish is now cheaper than any vegetable and even potato.Sources said with the increased taxes coming into force on April 1, the cost of transportation has risen thereby affecting the prices of vegetables. While potato is priced at Rs 14 a kg in Balasore, which was ` 8 a fortnight back, it is Rs 13 in Bhadrak and Rs 12 in Mayurbhanj district. Similarly, the price of onion has increased from Rs 10 to Rs 20 in Bhadrak district. It is, however, being sold at Rs 10 to Rs 12 in Balasore and Baripada. The prices of green vegetables too have gone up at least by 50 per cent. Brinjal is being sold at Rs  20 a kg, followed by lady’s finger, beans, string beans, bitter gourd, ridged gourd and parbal at Rs 40 each, tamato Rs  15 to 20, Cabbage ` Rs 20, Carrot Rs 20, Cauliflower Rs 30 to 50 per piece, green chilly Rs 60 a kg and coriander leaves at Rs 120 a kilo. Bhadrak is costlier by 20 per cent.A resident of Rasulpur, Basudev Patra said 500 gm of small fish for Rs 20 take care of the lunch of his 10-member family. The same cannot be said for vegetables which have become pricey, he added. With the soaring prices stretching the average middle class family’s budget, similar sentiments were echoed by most government employees who now find non-veg food cheaper. The traders attributed the hike to corresponding price rise in the neighbouring West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Jharkhand, from where the vegetables are procured. Even as 90 per cent of the vegetables are procured by neighbouring states, farmers of the region feel neglected. Farmers said while they incurred huge losses due to severe cold conditions during winter, the recent thunder squall has damaged large tract of vegetable fields in the three districts. “Besides, we fear low yield due to lack of irrigation facilities,” said Pravakar Barik, a vegetable grower. The prices may stabilise only by mid-July, provided monsoon does not play spoilsport.