TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: In a bid to offset high prices, the Goa State Horticulture Corporation will be procuring vegetables such as onions and green chillies from Tamil Nadu and Ahmednagar, Maharashtra as well as potatoes from Indore and tomatoes from Chikmangalur, Karnataka.
Speaking to Herald, Orlando Rodrigues, managing director of the corporation said that with prices of even poor quality onions hitting the roof at Rs 62/kilo in the Belgaum market, they are forced to look at other markets.
“Onions are not available anywhere except in Maharashtra. Ahmednagar offers better quality onions at a cheaper price,” Rodrigues said adding that it was also important that they maintain quality.
“While in Belgaum onions are available for Rs 62, in Ahmednagar they are available for around Rs 50 and the quality is better,” he said adding that Ahmednagar stock will arrive only on Friday.
The corporation is procuring chillies from Tamil Nadu, where they are cheap.
Prices of onions in the local market hit a record high of Rs 85/kilo on Wednesday, while those sold at the Horticulture Corporation outlets were sold at Rs 55/kilo.
Rodrigues said that a combination of factors is responsible for the rise in prices, including excess rainfall during July and a bad season last year. The prices are only going to rise by the end of September. Only in the kharif season prices are expected to fall.
The corporation is able to sell vegetables at no profit no loss owing to a subsidy from the government. The cost of transportation, packaging etc is covered by the government subsidy.
The prices of vegetables have been burning holes in the common man’s pocket over the last several weeks, with prices of most vegetables touching record levels.
