For the past two weeks, vegetable costs in Kerala have skyrocketed, severely straining the average person’s budget. Shallots are marketed for Rs 190 per kg, while ginger costs have risen over Rs 300.
Expensive vegetables are starting to appear on restaurant menus.
Ginger
Although ginger prices briefly decreased, they eventually increased. Ginger is offered at a wholesale price of Rs 270 per kilogram. However, the retail costs differ from location to location. It is priced between Rs 300 and Rs 340.
By April, about 95% of the ginger in the state had been collected. In December, there will be another harvest.
Onions and shallots
The cost of shallot has risen to Rs 200 per kg from an average of Rs 63 per kg two weeks ago. Prices for garlic are also getting close to Rs 150 per kilogram. Onion prices have also somewhat increased. At the moment, onions cost between Rs 25 and 30 at wholesale.
The state’s recent heavy rainfall and limited output are mentioned as causes for the increase in vegetable costs.
From Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, onions are imported into Kerala. Market supply has, according to traders, decreased by 50%. The onions were damaged and its supply chain was broken by the waterlogging caused by the nonstop rain. There are several claims that certain dealers are stockpiling onions in an effort to manipulate the market price.
Rice
The Kerala government announced that it will be buying rice grains from Andhra Pradesh to satisfy the demand since it expects a shortage of rice In the coming days. Within two weeks, 4,000 tonnes of Jaya rice would be delivered to the state. In Kerala, the price of this type of rice is now between Rs 35 and Rs 37 per kg. After the Onam season, the price is probably going to go up.