Karnataka : Poor monsoon drives rice prices up as paddy sowing suffers
Rice prices in Karnataka are rising as poor monsoon rains and low Tungabhadra reservoir levels threaten a third consecutive weak paddy crop. Delayed irrigation has disrupted cultivation, tightened paddy supplies, and forced mills to source grain from neighbouring states at higher costs.
Koppal: Rice prices have started rising across Karnataka as poor monsoon rains and low storage in the Tungabhadra reservoir threaten paddy production for the third consecutive year, raising fears of further increases in the coming months.
Wholesale prices of the popular Sona Masuri variety have risen by Rs 200-300 per quintal in the past 15 days in Gangavathi and Sindhanur, Karnataka’s key paddy-growing belt. The price has increased from Rs 4,800 to Rs 5,000-5,200 per quintal, according to Koppal-based rice wholesaler Pradeep Hammigi.
Retail prices of other varieties have also climbed sharply. Steam rice has gone up from Rs 45 to Rs 60 a kg, Kolam from Rs 66 to Rs 80, raw rice from Rs 60 to Rs 83, jeera rice from Rs 180 to Rs 220, and Sona Masuri from Rs 55 to Rs 70 a kg. Traders attributed the increase to lower paddy output and rising transportation and storage costs.
The situation has been aggravated by poor rainfall and low storage in the Tungabhadra reservoir. Although the crest gate that collapsed in Aug 2024 was replaced in June, deficient monsoon rains have delayed the release of irrigation water into canals.
The reservoir, which has a capacity of 105tmcft, has received only 51.1tmcft of water so far, compared with more than 80tmcft during the corresponding period last year. “Water cannot be released into canals until storage reaches the required level of 40tmcft to 60tmcft and the Irrigation Consultative Committee (ICC) takes a decision,” said SB Malligawad, superintending engineer, KNNL, Tungabhadra Project Circle, Munirabad.
The uncertainty has disrupted cultivation in the reservoir’s command area, which has expanded from the notified 12.1 lakh acres to more than 15 lakh acres, with nearly 90% under paddy. Farmers, who would normally have completed transplantation by now, have postponed the activity, putting cultivation across more than 12.5 lakh acres at risk.
The shortage has also begun affecting the rice industry. Hundreds of rice mills in Gangavathi, Karatagi, Sindhanur, Siruguppa and Raichur are facing a paddy shortage, forcing some to procure stocks from neighbouring states at higher cost, said Gangavathi rice mill owner Suryanarayana Chilakuri.
Meanwhile, thousands of acres of pump-set-irrigated paddy along the Tungabhadra River banks in Koppal, Vijayanagara, Ballari and Raichur districts are drying up because of poor river flow. Farmers said they have already spent more than Rs 25,000 an acre on cultivation and that timely release of water could still save the crop.
With no certainty of good rainfall, farmers fear a large part of the kharif paddy crop could be lost, further tightening supplies and pushing rice prices higher in the months ahead.
To Read more about Rice News continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : The Times Of India
