Potato & onion prices soar as West Bengal restricts supply

Patna: City residents are worried about managing their kitchen budgets after the supply of potatoes and onions to Bihar was cut off by West Bengal. They fear the prices of these essential commodities will rise further as consumption surpasses supply.
The West Bengal govt decided to restrict the supply of potatoes to other states due to rising prices in the source state. This measure is expected to remain in place until the new harvest arrives and prices stabilise in retail markets. Adding to the issue, Bengal police have prohibited the movement of potatoes and onions from warehouses located in Bihar.
On Wednesday, Bengal police unexpectedly crossed into Bihar's territory, erected barriers on NH-27 and stopped vehicles carrying potatoes and onions from Bengal near Rampur. Rampur is a crucial supplier of potatoes to Kishanganj, Katihar and Supaul districts.
Onions have been selling at Rs 60 per kilogram for the past three months while potato prices fluctuate between Rs 35 and Rs 45 per kilogram in local retail markets. Even garlic has reached an astonishing Rs 400 per kilogram. The price increases have impacted sales volumes of these items.
"Major stocks of potatoes and onions come to Bihar from Rampur. Potatoes are supplied to Rampur wholesale godowns from Gujarat and Maharashtra while onions are brought from Nashik, Maharashtra. The decrease in supply could lead to a rise of around Rs 10 per kilogram in the rates of both potatoes and onions," said Manoj Gupta, a wholesaler at the Mithapur vegetable market.
Sonam Kumari, a homemaker from Patliputra Colony, said, "Onions and potatoes are staples in our kitchen. Without these items, one cannot prepare a complete meal. We are forced to reduce consumption or opt for lower quality. The price hike is unbearable. It will ruin the monthly kitchen budget."
Animesh Mandal, a resident of Patel Nagar, who was seen buying vegetables at the Antaghat market, said, "Middle-class people are the worst sufferers of this price hike. How will we manage to buy such expensive vegetables?" he asked.
The rising prices are not only troubling homemakers but also restaurant operators, eatery owners and street food vendors.
Vinit Kumar, a local ‘pani puri' vendor in Kurji, said, "Selling ‘pani puri' is my only source of livelihood. I am hardly earning any profit since onion and potato prices went up. I have to use a very little amount, which spoils the taste."
Patna: City residents are worried about managing their kitchen budgets after the supply of potatoes and onions to Bihar was cut off by West Bengal. They fear the prices of these essential commodities will rise further as consumption surpasses supply.
The West Bengal govt decided to restrict the supply of potatoes to other states due to rising prices in the source state. This measure is expected to remain in place until the new harvest arrives and prices stabilise in retail markets. Adding to the issue, Bengal police have prohibited the movement of potatoes and onions from warehouses located in Bihar.
On Wednesday, Bengal police unexpectedly crossed into Bihar's territory, erected barriers on NH-27 and stopped vehicles carrying potatoes and onions from Bengal near Rampur. Rampur is a crucial supplier of potatoes to Kishanganj, Katihar and Supaul districts.
Onions have been selling at Rs 60 per kilogram for the past three months while potato prices fluctuate between Rs 35 and Rs 45 per kilogram in local retail markets. Even garlic has reached an astonishing Rs 400 per kilogram. The price increases have impacted sales volumes of these items.
"Major stocks of potatoes and onions come to Bihar from Rampur. Potatoes are supplied to Rampur wholesale godowns from Gujarat and Maharashtra while onions are brought from Nashik, Maharashtra. The decrease in supply could lead to a rise of around Rs 10 per kilogram in the rates of both potatoes and onions," said Manoj Gupta, a wholesaler at the Mithapur vegetable market.
Sonam Kumari, a homemaker from Patliputra Colony, said, "Onions and potatoes are staples in our kitchen. Without these items, one cannot prepare a complete meal. We are forced to reduce consumption or opt for lower quality. The price hike is unbearable. It will ruin the monthly kitchen budget."
Animesh Mandal, a resident of Patel Nagar, who was seen buying vegetables at the Antaghat market, said, "Middle-class people are the worst sufferers of this price hike. How will we manage to buy such expensive vegetables?" he asked.
The rising prices are not only troubling homemakers but also restaurant operators, eatery owners and street food vendors.
Vinit Kumar, a local ‘pani puri' vendor in Kurji, said, "Selling ‘pani puri' is my only source of livelihood. I am hardly earning any profit since onion and potato prices went up. I have to use a very little amount, which spoils the taste."