Shortage pushes up rice, dal prices

The sudden hike in commodity prices is burning a hole in the consumers’ pockets. The price of raw rice, which was Rs 35 per kg last week, has now touched Rs 42.

The price of different rice varieties rose by 25 per cent in the past week, while sugar and wheat prices shot up by nearly 15-20 per cent. Pulses like tur, green gram and horse gram too have shot up by 20 per cent.

“Tur has become unaffordable. If the situation continues, I don’t think I can buy nutritious food for my kids. It is shocking that even prices of rice and sugar are surging,” said Lakshmamma, a housemaid in Ramamurthynagar.

Abdul Hameed of KCMC Traders in Yeshwantpur, said on Monday that the price of steamed rice was Rs 34 a kg as against Rs 28 last week.

“Sugar, which used to be sold at Rs 29 a month ago, has shot up to Rs 35.50 now. Normally, Rs 2- Rs 3 price rise is acceptable, but this a cause of concern and it could increase further in the coming months,” Hameed said.

Wholesalers claim that the increase is due to a shortage in supply due to deficit rainfall. However, hoarding has also been blamed for the phenomenon. “Traders have been stocking goods. This is indirectly pushing up prices. The Department of Food and Civil Supplies must curb this,” Karnataka State Agricultural Marketing Board director C Somashekar said.

Poor monsoon has affected the paddy bowl of the state — Raichur, Davanagere and Bijapur. According to KSAMB, there is a 30 pc deficit in the supply of rice.