High prices burn holes in consumers' pockets

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The prices of onion and potato have risen sharply, burning holes in consumers' pockets. The prices of all commodities, from medicines to essential items, have surged sharply in the state.

The price of onion has risen by Rs 20-25 per kg in 20 days and that of potato by Rs 10 per kg. Onion from Nasik that sold at Rs 25 per kg on October 1 now costs Rs 50 per kg. Bengaluru potato sold at Rs 20-25 per kg on October 1 now costs Rs 30-35 per kg. Agra potato costs Rs 35-40 per kg against Rs 25-30 per kg earlier.

Retailers pass the buck on to wholesalers from whom they buy potatoes at higher prices. The wholesalers at the Fancy Bazar and Pamohi wholesale markets say that prices of potatoes and onions have gone up at their respective sources.

They said that the wholesale rate of Agra potato has gone up to Rs 2,900 per quintal now against Rs 2,500 per quintal. The wholesale price of Bengaluru potato is up from Rs 2,000 per quintal to Rs 2,500 per quintal.

The wholesale prices of onion from all sources have also are also up by Rs 1,000-1,200 per quintal. Onion of Nasik sold at Rs 1,800 now costs Rs 2,800 per quintal. The price of Patna onion has also risen from Rs 2,200 per quintal to Rs 3,200 per quintal, and that of Bengaluru from Rs 2,500 per quintal to Rs 3,700 per quintal.

The prices of various varieties of rice have also gone up by Rs 15-20 per kg. The local rice sold at Rs 27 per kg now costs Rs 32 per kg. The price of Arham brand rice was Rs 42 earlier, but now it costs Rs 46 per kg. Likewise, the cost of DBT rice was Rs 42 per kg earlier. Now it costs Rs 50 per kg. Sonashakti rice which cost Rs 48 per kg earlier, costs Rs 62 per kg. Price of Basmati rice is up by Rs 7 per kg – from Rs 111 per kg earlier to Rs 118 per kg.

The prices of pulses have also gone up. The moong dal sold at Rs 95-100 per kg earlier now costs Rs 100-115 per kg.

Vegetable prices have also not yet come down despite local production now.

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