THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With only two weeks left for Onam, the price of essential commodities including rice are soaring. The price of rice have gone up by Rs 12 per kg and for dried red chillies price hiked by Rs 92.

The price of rice varities Jaya and Vadi(Jyothi) mostly used by Malayalis have also increased by Rs 10 and Rs 12 respectively. Jaya rice hails from Andhra and Jyothi rice comes from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states. Rs 10 hike in other rice varities Uma, Surekha, Sonamasuri and Kranthi. The cost of rice is increasing by 30 paise to 60 paise per day. If the government does not intervene effectively in the market, then the prices will again go up. In view of this, middlemen are stocking large quantities of rice.

Packed rice costs Rs 3 to Rs 3.80 more per kg. The reason is the imposition of GST. The price of basmati rice has increased from an average of Rs.100 to Rs.110-120. The price of dried red chillies are increasing per month. Six months ago, it was Rs 224, now it's Rs 316.