Bhubaneswar: The price of onions, a kitchen essential, has skyrocketed in the state. Onion is being sold at `40 per kg these days as compared to Rs 24 per kg last month. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said heavy rain in Maharashtra and south India is the reason behind the price hike.
Speaking to the media here Wednesday, the Minister said the government is fully aware of the situation.
“Due to floods in Nashik and some parts of south India, there has been an increase in price of onions in Odisha. It is only for a brief period,” he said.
“The state government is monitoring the situation, the government will intervene if required,” Swain added.
An official in the department said the price of onion usually goes up during this period every year. However, this year, the price almost doubled because of heavy rains and floods in Maharashtra and Bengaluru.
The wholesale price in Nashik, the source market, has also increased. Odisha depends on Nashik market and the rising price also affected the state market, he said. He informed that the situation will continue till November. Once the newly harvested onion comes to the market, the price will automatically go down. Swain, who held a review meeting on farmers registration for Kharif paddy procurement, said a total of 11,61,838 farmers have registered themselves to take part in kharif paddy procurement scheduled to start November 1 across the state.
