From freebie to luxury: Coriander prices spike after rain disrupts Nashik supply chain
Fresh coriander prices have significantly increased due to heavy rains. Supplies from key producing regions like Nashik were disrupted by flooding. Wholesale prices reached ₹175 per kg, while retail prices climbed higher. Limited arrivals from Karnataka offered some relief but with lower quality. Transport disruptions further contributed to the sharp price movements this week.
The once inexpensive coriander, also known as dhaniya patti, has transformed into a pricey luxury ingredient following heavy rains that disrupted its supply chain. In Delhi's Azadpur mandi, the price of fresh coriander skyrocketed to ₹175 per kg, while retail rates soared to ₹220-230 a kg. Wholesale prices, which typically sit around ₹25 a kg, saw temporary peaks at ₹200 a kg before dropping to approximately ₹110.
The spike in prices occurred after heavy rainfall hit Nashik, Maharashtra, a key supplier of coriander to northern markets. Flooding in late July damaged fields and disrupted transportation, reducing the availability of produce suitable for the long journey to Delhi. Nashik-based vegetable trader Krushna Borade noted a shortage of high-quality green coriander about a month ago when local prices in Nashik reached ₹130/kg.
The recent excessive rainfall further hampered coriander production in various regions, making it challenging to source good-quality produce, especially varieties that can endure transportation to distant markets like Delhi, Borade explained. Karnataka has attempted to bridge the supply gap, but the quality of the arriving coriander has been relatively inferior, according to Mukesh Kumar, a vegetable trader at Azadpur mandi.
Rain-related transport disruptions also played a role in the sharp price fluctuations observed throughout the week. Coriander from Nashik is typically transported to cold-storage facilities in Indore before being shipped to Delhi, making the supply chain susceptible to weather-related disruptions. Aniket Kapadi, a coriander trader from Nashik, emphasized the unpredictability of leafy greens' prices during the rainy season, as they can surge multi-fold within a day of delayed arrival.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times - Economy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
