Onam rush sends veggie prices soaring, turns sugar bitter in Keralam
Raw banana prices remain high at around ₹65 a kg in the city’s wholesale markets. Sugar prices range between ₹75 and ₹77 a kg in retail markets across district, while rice prices remain stable
As the festival of Thiruvonam approaches, vegetable prices continue to surge in Keralam ahead of the festival rush. Sugar prices have particularly shocked shoppers, while essential commodities like rice and coconut oil have seen a decline. Raw bananas, a key ingredient for making chips, remain expensive, with a kilogram costing around ₹65 in Kochi's wholesale markets.
Traders blame reduced supplies from key production centers in Tamil Nadu, such as Mettupalayam, due to poor rainfall for the price hike. The price of raw bananas has risen from ₹50 a kg to ₹70 a kg, leading to increased costs for chips which should now be priced above ₹500 a kg. Other vegetables like onions, shallots, beans, and carrots have also seen price increases, with onions reaching ₹48 a kg and beans up to ₹80 a kg.
The higher demand for exports to Keralite communities is cited as the main reason for this price surge. Sugar prices in Keralam are between ₹75 and ₹77 a kg, with speculation about increased ethanol production as a reason. Despite concerns, rice varieties have remained stable, and coconut oil prices have dropped to around ₹290 a kg. The state government has increased market intervention to control the rising prices.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
