Food prices hit Kerala Christmas
But farmers benefited as the price of many commodities were on the upswing
Thiruvananthapuram: Christmas week normally sees Keralites swing into celebrations, with the added joy of family members getting together and including expatriates from the different parts of the world.
But this year the festivities have been dealt a major blow with runaway prices of vegetables and provisions.
Over the past week, for perhaps the first time ever, a kilo of onions and potatoes could not be bought for 100 rupees (Dh8.15). This affected a good number of middle and lower income families across the state. Despite interventions of the state government, Christmas week did not see the prices of essential commodities being arrested.
On the evening of Christmas Day, prices of meat and eggs also shot up, adding more pain to homemakers. The price of a kilo of beef was 150 rupees, and mutton sold at an unprecedented 280 rupees per kilogramme in the state capital. These levels are out of reach for most families in the state.
Provisions like onions and garlic were not only selling at prices in the range of 55 rupees per kilo and 250 rupees per kilo respectively, but also appeared to be in short supply at least in some parts of the state.
A hike in petroleum prices added to the burden of the common man.
The prices appeared to show no respite yesterday, with tomatoes touching 45 rupees per kilogramme and garlic hovering around 200 rupees per kilogramme.
Reason to cheer
The farm sector in Kerala had reason for cheer as prices of many commodities were on the upswing. While tea and coffee fetched better prices for the plantation sector, natural rubber prices broke 200 rupees for the first time. Cardamom ruled at over 1,000 rupees per kilo.
