Bhubaneswar, Feb 3: Prices of garlic have touched the sky in the past over a week with retail selling of the kitchen staple at a retail price of Rs 450 a kg in different parts of Bhubaneswar city while the wholesale price hovers between Rs 320 and Rs 350 a kg at Mandis in Unit - 1 market and Aiginia Mandi.
Vendors and Mandi owners have blamed low supply of garlic to the state for the sky rocketing price for the last three weeks which was Rs 200 a kg a month before.
Odisha depends on Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan for garlic import. The garlic crop was completely damaged in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh last year due to poor or unseasonal rains leading to shortfall in supply. Besides, the delayed harvest of the new crop has caused strained supply, said wholesalers.
The price will remain high for another one month till harvest of the rabi crop after at least two weeks and it will take a fortnight’s time to arrive in the local markets, they added.