Veggie Prices Double As Rain Disrupts Supply Chain, Ruins Crops

With rainfall battering multiple districts across the state, vegetable prices have doubled in the city, leaving consumers struggling with skyrocketing costs. The continuous downpour has severely disrupted the vegetable supply chain, as waterlogging, transportation delays, and flooded farmlands wreak havoc on production and delivery.

As a direct result of rain ruining crops, several vegetables are now retailing at record-high prices. Beans have surged to Rs 140 per kg, up from Rs 100 just a week ago. The price of spine gourd has doubled, jumping from Rs 60 to Rs 120 per kg. Drumsticks now cost Rs 120 per kg, compared to Rs 100 earlier. Even staple vegetables like brinjal, pointed gourd, ridge gourd, and cucumber are now being sold at Rs 80 per kg due to limited availability.

"From April to December, Odisha faces an off-season for local vegetable production," said Kabiraj Swain, secretary of the Vegetable Vendors' Association at the Unit I Wholesale Market. "We rely heavily on supplies from states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal. But heavy rainfall has disrupted transportation and damaged produce, with trucks getting delayed or stuck. Poor road conditions and flooded agricultural fields are directly impacting both the quality and quantity of vegetables reaching our markets."

The current crisis highlights the severe impact of supply chain disruption caused by adverse weather, which is not only reducing the availability of fresh produce but also putting immense pressure on household budgets. If rains continue, consumers may face further hikes in the coming days.