The delay in monsoon has sent food prices soaring across the country, even though inflation has been negative for the past five weeks. Here’s a report on how its impacting your household budget. The impact of a delayed and deficient monsoon has now started showing up in the monthly budget.
Prices of the humble tur dal have climbed by over 30 rupees. Gulbarga, in arid north Karnataka, never does receive much rain. But the lack of rain this year spells trouble - and not just for the farmers of the district. Here's a report as to why bad rains in a particular district is not Karnataka's problem alone.
Sambar and rasam are everyday items in every south Indian kitchen. At 450 grams per capita per month, Andhra Pradesh is one of the highest consumers of red gram or arhar dal that is selling now at 100 Rs a kg.
In Tamil Nadu, the dal is priced Rs 86 per kg, in New Delhi it’s between Rs 92 to 95, in Maharashtra, people have to shell out Rs 90 for a kg of it and in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, the Tur dal is being sold at above Rs 90 per kg.
It is now confirmed that the country has been let down badly by the monsoon this year. According to government figures it's 23 per cent below normal across India but it's much worse in northwest India where is it 40 per cent below average.
The inflation rate in the country may be less than 0 per cent, but that has, quite clearly, not resulted in the prices of key commodities coming down. Take for instance the case of Toor dal - an everyday ingredient in Indian cuisine. It’s actually jumped 25 rupees in a fortnight and is all set to hit 100 rupees a kilo this week.
The threat of a drought is again haunting the Indian economy. The ground level situation remains precarious as the farmers are looking towards the heavens for some mercy.
In Kolkata, potato prices have spiraled, from 12 rupees a kilo last month to 16 to 18 rupees a kilo on Friday. Now, the Bengal government has decided to step in. From Saturday, the government will set up stalls in 12 markets across Kolkata and sell potatoes at 13 rupees a kilo.
