If you have been to the market, you will surely know that garlic prices have nearly doubled over the past three days. This makes it the latest victim of basic commodity price inflation. In certain regions, the cost of garlic has risen to ₹400 per kg owing to a shortage. Imagine! One of the spices that is used the most liberally in India, garlic, has seen a price increase in the last few days. Here’s why!
Garlic Prices Soar To ₹400/Kg
Garlic prices have reached the sky with some retail outlets offering it for as much as ₹300 to ₹400 a kg. It is anticipated that the costs will stay high through the end of the year.
According to The Economic Times, garlic is currently being offered in wholesale marketplaces for between ₹130 and 140, representing a significant increase in wholesale costs. Meanwhile, wholesale prices for premium garlic range from ₹220-250 per kg.
Garlic was the next spice whose price doubled in less than a week, after onions. The country’s supply of garlic is decreasing as a result of severe weather-damaging crops, which is the cause of the high price.
Many garlic crops were devastated in regions of India due to unseasonal rainfall brought on by Cyclone Michaung. Due to this, there is a severe scarcity of spices on the market, which has led prices to double.
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Winter Months Usually See A Rise In Garlic Prices
Until the new yield enters the market, which may happen by the end of the month, prices are predicted to rise nationwide. The winter months usually see an increase in garlic prices because of the poor availability and yield.
Following the shortage of onions, which resulted in high costs and low availability in wholesale markets, there has been an unanticipated increase in the price of garlic. The Centre made multiple attempts to lower the prices, but the rates stayed the same at ₹300–400 for retail and approximately ₹200 for wholesale.
The unexpected and extreme weather conditions in some parts of India, which resulted in low crop production, are the cause of the abrupt increase in the cost of important fruits and vegetables. (As per Hindustan Times)
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Farmers In Madhya Pradesh Face Losses
Unfavourable weather patterns over the past few months have had a number of effects on garlic supplies. For instance, farmers in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur district lost lakhs of rupees due to an unexpected downpour in September. The Krishi Upaj Mandi’s farmers were unable to save garlic from the heavy downpour.
According to Mumbai APMC director Ashok Valunj, who spoke to the Times of India, “they have to depend on supply from Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, which has been an expensive affair.” Local supply is being squeezed due to saturated stock, scant production from insufficient rainfall during the monsoon, and unseasonal rain later.
A Times of India story citing dealers at APMC states that there is little chance of an improvement in the foreseeable future. Maharashtra’s crop has performed poorly due to unfavourable weather, despite a decline in supplies from the southern states.
What are your views?
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