Many essential food items off menu in economically weaker groups

During the past couple of months, the spiraling prices of essential commodities, including vegetables, fruits, pulses, tea, milk, spices, edible oils, eggs, non-vegetarian products, etc, have driven many food items off the dining table.

The bad news is that market analysts and farmers’ bodies are predicting that the upward trend will not ease in the near future as there is a huge shortage in supply.

“Majority of items that are considered important ingredients for a balanced meal have been burning a hole in common man’s pocket. Since the beginning of October, these items have registered a two to three-fold rise. 

Even mandis have been receiving vegetables, fruits, etc, at increased rates and are forced to sell these to the retailers accordingly. Despite it being the peak season, rates of seasonal fruits – guava, apple, orange, kiwi, rashbhari and others are high in the wholesale market,” said Rajendra Sharma, former chairman of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC). 

Traders of Khari Baoli, Asia’s wholesale grocery and spice market, face a similar predicament.

“Rising prices of essential commodities, especially groceries and spices, have upset the market. It has not just affected business but has hit the middle and lower-class families to a great extent. The fact is that prices of some of the essential commodities have shot up drastically,” said Sushil Goel, a trader from the Khari Baoli. 

Market survey reveals that despite government’s tall claims, the prices of pulses like Arhar Dal was hovering between Rs 170 and 190 per Kg in retail market. Price of mustard oil, too, was varying between Rs 135 and Rs 150 per litre in Delhi’s retail markets. 

Most vegetable items - onion, tomato, potato, peas, spinach, ginger, etc were being sold at all time high rates. 

The worst hit was pea which has crossed the Rs 180 per kg mark and traders have claimed that it would breach the Rs 200 mark soon. The analysts claimed that besides poor supply there were some other factors which have hit the market hard. 

“Faulty supply-chain management, increased cost of production, global inflation, less space for cultivation, less production due to improper rain, improper management and distribution, hoarding and increase in the demand food and green vegetables are also responsible for price rise,” said Dushyant Naagar, a farmer from West Uttar Pradesh.