CHENNAI: The price of rice has gone up by Rs 2-5 as Pongal approaches. However an average Rs 20-30 drop has been observed in dal prices.
Whole sale dealers and vendors say that inflow of daal into the state from Andhra Pradhesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradhes and Uttar Pradesh has increased causing a crash in price. “The price has already decreased by over Rs 20 among all dal varieties. We’re expecting the price to drop even further as the market is also getting weaker,” said Rama Murugan, a wholesale dealer.
At retail outlets, one kg of toor dal that was sold at around Rs 120 now sells for Rs 90-100, green dal faces a similar drop. Urad and dal and Bengal which sold at around Rs 140 has come down to Rs 120.
Rice price, on the other hand, has seen an overall increase as the availability within the state is receding. “The rice that is circulated within the state is the one that comes from Kancheepuram as the farmers had a failed crop. This has particularly increased the price of idly rice that grows there,” said the owner of a rice mandy in Red Hills. “The availability of rice is so low that we are bringing rice from Kolkotta,” he added.
Ponni rice that was sold between Rs 48 and Rs 50 now sells between Rs 54 and 56. Sona rice that was sold at around Rs 48 is being sold at around Rs 52. Idly rice which was sold at Rs 30 on average has now shot up to Rs 36 and Rs 38. The rice dealers are expecting the price to shoot up even further as Pongal comes closer.