Expensive Onam for State,as prices of essentials soar

It is going to be an expensive Onam in Kerala this year with prices of several essential commodities soaring. Kerala, being predominantly a consumer state, has been hit hard by the surge in the prices of commodities coming from outside the state.

The prices of some of the pulses, sugar, jaggery, bananas are all going through the roof much to the unhappiness of the consumers. Most of the essential commodities are being imported to Kerala to meet the state’s demand. The only consolation this year is that the price of rice has increased only by a small margin and the coconut oil price is also under control. Q

Rice prices have increased by over 15 % to reach Rs 18 to 21 per kg. Kerala’s rice production is limited to Palakkad and Kuttanad regions while most of the quantity is coming from states like Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. “There is a short supply of tur dal and as a result the prices have increased sharply to Rs 90 to 95 per kg compared with Rs 55 per kg a year ago,” says Saju, a wholesale trader in Kochi. Other pulses like green gram, black gram, red chilli etc have also become dear.

The banana chips and Onam delicacy ‘payasam’ will be costly this year. The reason is that both sugar and jaggery prices have shot up because of shortage of sugarcane. Both the commodities are being sold in the range of Rs 30 to 32 per kg, at least Rs 10 more than the level last year.

The prices of bananas, which is an important item for Onam, have started going up days before Onam. Heavy rain had wreaked damage in banana crops in the state grown mainly in Wayanad and Idukki districts. This has led to dwindling supply of the commodity.

The banana prices have reached Rs 28 to Rs 30 per kg. By Onam this would increase further unless the crop from Tamil Nadu arrives. Last year during Onam the banana prices stood at Rs 25 per kg. This has pushed up the banana chip prices by Rs 20 to Rs 160 per kg. This is despite the lower price of coconut oil for preparing the chips.

Onam bazaars started by Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation and Consumerfed could provide relief to the consumers as they offer essential commodities at cheaper prices.