At a recent press briefing, Krushna Chandra Patra, Odisha’s Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, announced a strategic initiative to establish cold storage facilities in every block of the state. This move aims to address the soaring vegetable prices affecting local consumers.
Minister Patra highlighted the cost structure of onions, which are imported from Nashik and Andhra Pradesh at a base price of Rs 2,953 per quintal. This translates to Rs 29.53 per kilogram before factoring in transportation costs and the profit margins of wholesalers and retailers, culminating in a final selling price of Rs 40 per kilogram.
The minister assured the public that the government is closely monitoring and will take strict action against unauthorized hoarding of vegetables. He also attributed the surge in potato prices to increased rates in West Bengal and Assam.
Addressing the rising prices of tomatoes and other vegetables, Minister Patra acknowledged the government’s limited control but emphasized that the planned cold storage facilities would provide a long-term solution. “It will take time, but we are committed to doing it,” he affirmed.