Shocking!! Garlic prices in the Chennai markets have skyrocketed now!!
The abnormal surge in the price of one of the most important kitchen ingredients in the Chennai wholesale market has taken many by surprise now.
It is now brought to light that due to the reduced supply of garlic the price has increased to Rs 300 per kilo now. This has caused huge worry for many customers and traders in Chennai now.
This is now the second time in 2024 the prices of garlic have increased abnormally in Chennai. Information is that the supply of garlic from states like AP, Maharashtra, Karnataka and MP have dwindled. In the coming days, the supply of garlic might go down even further and this would make the prices surge like last time. It must be recalled that in 2022 garlic was sold for Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kilo across the country. The presence of excess stocks made the farmers dump tonnes of garlic.
From the month of December in 2023, there has been a steep increase in the garlic prices and that has been mainly due to increased demand for garlic. Now, the farmers are not ready to supply garlic at the lowest price of Rs 200 per kg despite excess production. As a result, the arrival of garlic in Chennai has been affected and this has led to a steep rise in the garlic rates.
In the markets, the price of garlic has surged to Rs 250 to Rs 300 per kg whereas in the retail shops the garlic price has increased by Rs 100 per kg. This was mentioned by Mr. P. Sukumaran, secretary of Koyambedu Wholesale Merchants Association. It is worth mentioning here that unlike other important commodities garlic is cultivated just twice in a year.
According to a trader in George Town in north Chennai, it was clear that wholesale shops here sell the first quality of garlic for Rs 350 per kg. He added that at the retail markets garlic is being sold at Rs 400 to Rs 450 per kg. He hinted that from June the prices of garlic might come down due to arrival from Himachal.
