Price of groceries and vegetables skyrocketing in Kerala ahead of festival season

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The people in the state are struggling with the rising price of essential commodities. The price of vegetables and groceries have gone up by more than 30 percent in a month. This is a huge burden to the people ahead of the festival season. The price of green chillies increased to Rs 60 per kg from Rs 30 last month. For dried chillies the rate is Rs 280 instead of Rs 220. Kashmiri Chilly (KDL) is priced at Rs 800 per kg. It was Rs 600 last month. The wholesale price of ginger in the Chala market was Rs 120 yesterday, which was Rs 50 to Rs 60 earlier. The only relief is the price of rice.

It is indicated that the ineffectiveness of market intervention through Supplyco outlets is the reason for soaring prices. Supplyco outlets are out of stock. Those who come here hoping for cheaper prices return disappointed. Supplyco's efforts to get the groceries from Andhra Pradesh were unsuccessful.

During the pandemic, vegetables were widely grown in home gardens and the terrace. But now most of it has stopped. The vegetables in Kerala mostly come from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Some traders say that the low production due to the harsh summer in the neighboring states, have caused the price hike.

Item----Price Last Month----Price Now

Peas--------- 120 ----------145

Dried chill------220------280

Dal (Parippu)-----125------135

Urad Dal (Uzhunnu)----100----121

Ginger-----60-----120

Beans----40----100

Brinjal-----27----65

Green chilly----30---60

Snake Gourd------ 20-----50

Eggplant-----25------ 48

Colocasia (Chembu)---- 50-------100

Big lemon ---------45--------120

Lemon-------70-------110

Yard Long beans (Vallipayar)------42-------68

Bitter gourd-----40-------60

Dried chilli price

April 2021 - ₹140

March 2022 - ₹200

August 2022 - ₹250

October 2022 - ₹ 270

November 2022 - ₹345

December 2022 - ₹305

March 2023 - ₹ 220

April 2023 - ₹ 290

Six reasons for price hike

1. No amount has been allocated this year for market intervention.

2. Most of the Supplyco outlets do not have proper stock.

3. An attempt to get five grocery items from Andhra Pradesh was unsuccessful.

4. Less regional farming.

5. Many schemes couldn’t achieve target.

6. In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, vegetable production has decreased due to harsh summer.

"With the opening of Vishu-Ramzan markets from 12th, the price of essential commodities will come down. It has been directed to invite tenders for supplying more stock to Supplyco stores. More counters will be opened everywhere. “, said GR Anil, Minster for Food.