Consumers denied food price relief

Market prices for poultry, vegetables and fruits saw sharp fluctuations this week, with several items showing sizable reductions on paper but continuing to sell at inflated rates across the city.

Consumers complained that official rate lists were widely ignored in retail markets, leaving them facing markups despite cuts announced by the district administration.

Live chicken prices were reduced by Rs60 per kg and fixed between Rs309 and Rs323, yet remained largely unavailable at official rates. Chicken meat, fixed at Rs468 per kg, sold for Rs520 to Rs600. Boneless chicken fetched between Rs800 and Rs950 per kg.

Several vegetables also recorded notable downward revisions that failed to translate into consumer relief. The official price of fresh soft-skin potatoes was reduced by Rs15 per kg and capped at Rs80 to Rs85 per kg, but sold for Rs140. The sugar-free variety, listed at Rs32 to Rs35 per kg, was sold for more than double, at Rs80 to Rs100 per kg. Onion prices dropped by Rs17 per kg on the rate list but sold for Rs120 to Rs150 per kg.

Tomatoes moved in the opposite direction, gaining Rs25 per kg and fixed between Rs130 and Rs140 per kg, but retailed at Rs180 to Rs220 per kg. Garlic varieties saw mixed trends: local garlic was lowered by Rs10 per kg and fixed at Rs172 to Rs180 per kg but sold at up to Rs300 per kg; Harnai garlic gained Rs15 and sold at Rs400 per kg; Chinese garlic, reduced on the list to Rs400-420 per kg, sold for Rs600 per kg.

Ginger prices were reduced by Rs50 per kg and fixed at Rs295-310 per kg, yet vendors charged Rs400 to Rs500 per kg. Bitter gourd, spinach, lemon, pumpkin and green chili also displayed wide gaps between notified and retail prices.

Fruit prices also swung. Apples gained Rs10 per kg and were listed at Rs195-380 but sold for Rs250-700 per kg.