Cha, chanachur turn dearer with hike in prices of tea leaves, pulses, oil
Times of India | 21 September 2024
Kolkata: The cost of daily essentials have started sliding up ahead of Durga Puja. From the morning cuppa to evening snacks, prices of basic kitchen staples have seen a significant surge, impacting household budgets.
The retail price of all categories of tea has risen sharply by Rs 40-60 per kg, while that of mustard as well as white edible oils has increased by Rs 20-30 per kg, now selling at Rs 140-160 per kg and Rs 100-120 per kg respectively.Pulses, like moong dal and masoor dal, have also jumped up by Rs 10-30 per kg and Rs 10-20 per kg. These hikes in edible oil and dal prices have, in turn, made popular “adda” snacks, such as chanachur or namkeen, pricier by Rs 10-30 per kg. “Next in the line are bread and cakes as ingredients have become dearer,” said Anil Pramanik, a bakery retailer in Behala.
The rise in tea prices has been attributed to significant crop loss in Assam and Bengal due to adverse weather conditions, pest infestations and a drop in export prices. According to the Tea Association of India, tea estates in Bengal reported a 21% drop in production till July than that in previous year and those in Assam 11%.
The price hike of edible oils is reportedly fuelled by the govt’s recent hike in customs duties on crude oils, such as soybean, sunflower, and palm oil. The duty on crude oil jumped from 0% to 20%, leading to an increase of Rs 20 per litre across varieties. Retailers and wholesalers in Kolkata have already adjusted their prices, with consumers bearing the brunt.
Chitra Dasgupta, a housewife from Bhawanipore, expressed her concern: “With oil prices rising by over Rs 20 per litre, it’s becoming challenging to manage our monthly expenses.”
With the festive season just around the corner, many families are already feeling the pressure on their finances. Anup Chanda, a retailer in Kidderpore, acknowledged that while sales continued, consumers were growing anxious about the rising prices and limited stock. “Wholesalers have raised prices by Rs 22 per litre. We are witnessing a rise in demand as people want to stock up before prices go up further,” he said.
While the govt argues the increase in customs duties will benefit domestic oilseed farmers, allowing them to fetch better prices for their produce, the immediate effect has been a sharp rise in consumer prices. This, combined with inflationary pressure, is making it difficult for households to keep up with essential expenses. There are also growing fears that black marketeers may hoard oil stocks to create artificial demand, pushing prices even higher. Traders warned this could further strain the market in the festive season, when demand for oil-based food items spiked.