Onion, potato prices to drop drastically

Visakhapatnam: Onions and potatoes, which have been burning in a hole in the pockets of consumers in Vizag for the past few days, are likely to be found in plenty in the markets, in a couple of days, as the West Bengal government is reported to have relaxed the inter-state movement of tubers and a fresh stock of onions is likely to reach the city from Maharashtra.

Sources said traders had procured onions at a higher price earlier and with the stock nearing exhaustion, they placed a fresh order.

Shedding tears over onions is nothing new to Vizagities. They had done it earlier too. But shortage of potatoes in the market is a new phenomenon. Potatoes were sold for as high as Rs34 a kg at rythu bazaars and Rs 40 a kg in the open market in the city, while they costed nothing more than Rs 12-15 a kg, earlier.

At present, superior quality onions (Maharashtra variety) cost Rs42 a kilo and the second grade cost Rs 33 a kg at all the 12 rythu bazaars in the city. According to sources, the vegetables crisis would be resolved in the next few days.

The incessant rainfall under the influence of low-pressure and north-east monsoon in October has hit the standing horticulture crops in various parts in Vizag resulted many variety of vegetables dearer.

In Rythu Bazaars, any quality of vegetable was about Rs40 a kg and many felt buying vegetables is a luxury in the season. Assistant Director Marketing (Rythu Bazaars), Visakh-apatnam, B Ravi Kumar said Vizag has been depending on Maharashtra for onions and West Bengal for potatoes, however, he hopefully says that city markets would get huge quantity of onions and potatoes supply from Maharashtra and West Bengal with in three to four days and the pries of the most wanted vegetables will come down sharply.

However, the officials told that the vegetable prices except onions and potatoes will be stabilized after some weeks only.