Its sellers market in tribal areas

JEYPORE: The prices of vegetables still hover around Rs 40 a kg in the tribal markets. This is despite harvesting of local vegetables.Market sources said scanty rainfall in the tribal areas of Pottangi, Boipariguda,  Borrigumma, Semiliguda and Lamtaput impacted vegetable production by over 60 per cent in October. This led to low supply of brinjal, tomato, cauliflower and  cabbage to markets. Everyday over 100 tonne vegetables are required for different markets of Koraput and Jeypore sub-divisions but market sources get only 40 tonne due to shortage in production.What is worrying is that for the first time prices of vegetables shot up to around Rs 30 to Rs 40 a kg in the peak season, four times higher than last year’s in the same season affecting people badly. Such has been the impact of price hike that vegetables like brinjal and tomato are no more available in the markets. The steep hike has also prompted nearly 50 per cent vegetable traders to stop importing fearing losses.Meanwhile, it is a seller’s market with the district administration yet to make any review of the market price of vegetables, a vendor alleged.