In response to crop damage from Cyclone Dana's incessant rainfall, the state government has escalated its oversight in markets across Calcutta and neighboring districts. This initiative, led by state agriculture marketing minister Becharam Manna, aims to mitigate any undue price increases on essential vegetables like potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and green vegetables. The task force's deployment seeks to counteract any disruptions caused by middlemen in the supply chain, which can lead to price surges.
Despite the challenge in assessing the full extent of the damage to vegetable crops, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on green vegetables in districts such as Hooghly, Bankura, Howrah, and East Burdwan. However, the majority of Calcutta's vegetable supply, which comes from North and South 24-Parganas, remains unaffected. The state government's proactive measures include ensuring the stability of potato supplies from cold storage and maintaining vigilance against any efforts to hoard or reduce vegetable supplies.
Current vegetable prices in Calcutta, including potatoes at ₹30-32 (0.36 - 0.38 USD) per kg and other essentials like ginger, onions, and green chillies at various rates, are deemed normal. To support affordability, the 460 Sufal Bangla outlets offer these vegetables at reduced prices. Following a price surge in July, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee convened a meeting to emphasize the importance of regular market price monitoring, with the chief secretary overseeing daily rates as per her directive.
Source: The Telegraph Online