THE ginger and garlic prices haveskyrocketedin thewholesalemarketduring theholy festival of Shravan because of littlesupplies.Thishashittheconsumershard anddisturbed the monthly budgets of housewives that are already suffering from inflation and never ending expenses. On Monday, ginger prices were in a range of Rs 180 per kg to Rs 200 per kg while garlic was available in the price range of Rs 360 to Rs 400 per kg in the Mahatma Phule vegetable wholesale market. This was revealedbyRamMahajan, Secretary, Mahatma Phule Adatiya Association while speaking to The Hitavada. In retail, the ginger prices have touched a level of Rs 220 per kg to Rs 240 per kg and garlic at Rs 400 to Rs 440 per kg, depending on the quality and locality. Mahajan further said that ginger and garlic prices have escalated because of a huge dip in their supply.

 

The ginger andgarlicpriceshaveincreased byRs 40 per kg,respectively, as compared to theprices 15days ago. In the firstweek ofAugust, ginger prices were in a range of Rs 130 per kg to Rs 150 per kg, while garlic was available in the price range of Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg in the wholesale market. A sizeable quantity of ginger arrives here in the city from Bangaluru while garlic comes from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. “However, because of rains andunfavourableclimaticconditionsprevailinginrespective areas, supply of these two staples have squeezed and thus the prices are rising,” said Mahajan. Hefelt that thepricesofboth the agricultural commodities will remain at elevated levels for next few months till the arrival of new crop. The new crop of ginger will start arriving in the local markets from September,butgarlicwillbegin arriving in November, till then theconsumerswillhave towait for the prices to fall.