Bhubaneswar, August 18: The sharp rise in vegetable prices across Bhubaneswar has become a growing concern for households, particularly for low-income and middle-class families struggling to manage their daily food budgets.

With several commonly consumed vegetables now selling at ₹90 or more per kg, shoppers say a weekly trip to the vegetable market has become a financial burden. Prices of vegetables such as ridge gourd, brinjal, tomato and pointed gourd have risen sharply, with some items reportedly doubling in price within a week.

Vegetable Prices Leave Consumers Shocked

At roadside markets along Jayadev Vihar, consumers are reportedly paying around ₹90 per kg for ridge gourd and brinjal, while french beans are being sold at around ₹100 at the purchase level and nearly ₹120 per kg at retail.

Other prices cited by local sellers and consumers include:

Kosala greens: around ₹15 per bunch

Cucumber: around ₹60 per kg

Ridge gourd: around ₹90 per kg

Brinjal: around ₹90 per kg

French Beans: around ₹120 per kg at retail

For many families, buying a variety of vegetables has now become difficult.

Some consumers say they are buying smaller quantities and trying to stretch one vegetable-based dish across two meals to keep household expenses under control.

Why Are Vegetable Prices Rising?

Traders attribute the sudden price increase largely to persistent rainfall, which has affected vegetable cultivation and disrupted supplies from local growing areas.

With production affected, the market is becoming increasingly dependent on vegetables brought in from other states, increasing transportation and procurement costs.

Traders say higher costs at the source are eventually being reflected in retail prices.

A Shravan-Season Price Shock

The ongoing Shravan month has also raised concerns among consumers that vegetable prices could remain elevated or rise further, particularly as demand for certain food items and reduced availability intersect with weather-related supply disruptions.

For households already facing increased expenses, another round of price hikes could put additional pressure on monthly budgets.

When Vegetables Become Too Expensive, Leaves Enter the Kitchen

One of the most striking examples of the impact of rising prices has emerged from Salia Sahi in Bhubaneswar, where some residents say they have started using kaunria tree leaves as food because they cannot afford vegetables regularly.

Residents said that with vegetables becoming too expensive, leaves have increasingly become part of their meals. Some families reportedly cook the leaves as a vegetable and depend on them for multiple meals during the day.

“We are eating leaves instead of vegetables,” some residents said while describing the financial pressure caused by the soaring prices.

They said they have been relying on whatever edible greens are available around them and intend to continue doing so until vegetable prices come down.

The Real Impact Is on the Household Plate

The price rise is not just a market issue-it is directly affecting what families can put on their plates.

For low-income households, the sudden increase means fewer vegetables, smaller purchases and greater dependence on inexpensive alternatives. For middle-class families, it means household food budgets are being stretched further every week.

As persistent rain continues to affect cultivation and supply chains, consumers are now hoping for an improvement in arrivals and a reduction in retail prices.

Until then, the question for many families remains simple: How long can they afford to keep vegetables off their plates?