Odisha: Markets see distress sale of vegetables

BHUBANESWAR: On the first day of 14-day lockdown in the state, several markets witnessed distress sale of vegetables on Wednesday. Prices crashed to as low as Rs 10 as green grocers hurried to sell their produce and return home before the curbs started at noon. Sale and purchase of essentials have been allowed from 6 am to 12 noon for which people can walk up to 500 metres.
“All these are perishable items and there is no point taking them back home. So we reduced the price so that we could sell the items and return home,” said Karika Sahu, a vendor at Unit-1 market.
Vegetable vendors said demands have gone down as hotels, restaurants and hostels are closed during the lockdown. The usual rush in the vegetable market is missing as people had already stocked up on essentials ahead of lockdown. Many households are not buying vegetables due to the fear of infection.
“We had to compromise on profit as something is better than nothing. We have to run our family so have to sell vegetables at throwaway prices,” said Sushant Samantray, another vendor.
In the morning, vegetables like brinjal and okra were selling at Rs 30/kg while pointed gourd and bitter gourd were selling for Rs 40/kg. But as noon approached, the prices dropped to Rs 8-10/kg. It was same for other items as well.
“The vegetable vendors are in a difficult state. They are not only risking their lives and coming to sell their products, but are also not getting the right price for it. During the 14-day lockdown the demand will be low and there is hardly any chance of improvement as the hospitality industry or eateries are not going to reopen soon,” said Rabi Satpathy, secretary of vegetable sellers’ association at Unit-1.