ESSENTIAL food prices have risen in markets just ahead of the festive season. Price hikes in rice and edible oils driven by syndicates and profiteering have disrupted household kitchen budgets. As the festive season of Shravan nears, residents are grappling with the burden of rising grocery prices. Ration prices have increased right before the festivals. Rice prices have gone up by as much as Rs 20 while edible oil prices have also surged rapidly. People are distressed by this sudden hike. Essential food items have become costlier ahead of the festivals, completely upsetting kitchen budgets. Prices of rice, wheat, and edible oils have risen, leaving people visibly distressed by the inflation. Prices for both coarse and fine rice varieties have increased, with hikes ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 20. Arbitrary practices by traders are driving up prices; allegations of profiteering ahead of the festivals are surfacing, with traders reportedly forming syndicates to raise rates. Also, edible oil prices are skyrocketing. The cost of rice bran oil has surged significantly, now exceeding that of soy oil; an 800- gram pouch costs Rs 130, translating to Rs 163 per liter. Soy oil is currently selling at Rs 155 per liter.

 

Mustard oil prices have once again crossed the Rs 200 mark; it is priced at Rs 194 per liter in the wholesale market and Rs 205 per liter in the retail market. Fine rice varieties in Chhattisgarh are sourced from outside the state, with significant supplies arriving from South Indian states and Madhya Pradesh. Local producers also sell their stock in the market, where fine rice sees the highest demand. Coarse rice prices have risen by up to Rs 10. ‘Kali Moonch’ rice from Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, is popular, and its price has increased by Rs 15 over the last two months. Its wholesale price has reached Rs 4,500 and Rs 6,000 per quintal, while it is selling at Rs 65 per kilogram in the retail market. Prices for HMT rice have also risen significantly; the wholesale rate is now Rs 58 per kilogram, and it is retailing at Rs 62 to Rs 65 per kilogram. There is also high demand for ‘Abba Huzoor’ rice; its wholesale price has increased from Rs 57 to Rs 74, and it is selling at Rs 80 per kilogram in the retail market. The price of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ rice has gone up by Rs 20; its wholesale rate has reached Rs 75, and it is retailing at up to Rs 80 per kilogram. The wholesale price of ‘Jawan Phool’ rice has risen to Rs 115. This surge in prices has put a strain on household budgets, highlighting the persistent economic disparities in society and overshadowing the otherwise joyous festive season.