Rains hike food prices
Monsoon rains have disrupted food supplies to the metropolis and widened the gap between government-notified and actual retail prices, with consumers paying substantially more for most vegetables, fruits and poultry products.
The latest rains disrupted transportation of perishable commodities from production areas to wholesale markets, reducing arrivals and increasing handling and distribution costs.
While these disruptions contributed to higher prices, weak market oversight and speculative trading also appeared to be contributing to the widening gap between official and retail rates.
The district administration continued issuing daily price notifications and monitoring markets, but most commodities remained unavailable at the notified rates. The disparity raised questions over the price control mechanism during supply disruption.
Poultry prices showed a mixed trend. The official price of live chicken fell by Rs5 per kg to Rs309-323, while chicken meat declined by Rs7 to Rs468 per kg. However, chicken meat was sold for Rs520-570 per kg in the city.
Among vegetables, Sugar Free potatoes were officially priced at Rs30-33 per kg but sold for Rs50-70. Local tomatoes saw a Rs30 reduction in the notified rate to Rs220-240 per kg, yet retailed at Rs340-400.
The notified price of onions increased sharply by Rs40 to Rs147-155 per kg, while retailers charged Rs180-200.
Local garlic rose by Rs10 to Rs152-160 per kg but sold for Rs200-250. Chinese garlic was available at Rs600.
Thai ginger remained officially priced at Rs335-350 per kg but retailed at Rs450-500, while Chinese ginger increased by Rs5 to Rs320-335 and sold for Rs400-450.
Local cucumbers, for which no official rate was issued, sold for Rs200-220.
Green chilies rose by Rs10 to Rs120-140 per kg, according to the supplied figures, but sold for Rs150-160. Capsicum remained officially priced at Rs286-300 but retailed at Rs400.
Chinese carrots were officially priced at Rs110-115 but sold for Rs200-250, while peas, for which no official rate was issued, sold at Rs500 per kg.
Fruit prices also remained elevated.
Apples were officially priced at Rs250-305 per kg but sold for Rs300-500. A-grade bananas were notified at Rs188-210 per dozen but sold for Rs300-350.
Dates were officially priced at Rs320-460 per kg but sold for Rs800-2,400.
Plum was officially priced at Rs325-340 but retailed at Rs400-600. Pears remained unchanged at Rs247-260 and retailed at Rs250-300.
Gola grapes were officially priced at Rs248-260 per kg but sold for Rs400-500, while th3 Sundarkhani variety was notified at Rs460-480 but retailed at Rs700-800.