Tamil Nadu : Rice prices witness sharp rise in Tiruchi due to supply crunch
Tiruchi rice prices have surged sharply due to tight paddy supplies from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Fine varieties such as Karnataka Ponni and Seeraga Samba have risen by ₹10–₹15 per kg since May, while traders warn that drought, reduced Kuruvai cultivation, and limited paddy arrivals could push prices even higher in the coming months.
Rice prices have made a strong surge in Tiruchi apparently due to short supply of paddy from the cultivating centres.
Tiruchi, which has a number of rice mills in Manachanallur, Ariyamangalam and Kattur, gets paddy from Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and other areas in the Cauvery delta. Besides them, the mills receive paddy from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. There are traders who procure rice from various parts of Karnataka and market it as Karnataka Ponni, a fine rice variety. The prices, which were under control until the first quarter of the calendar year, began to increase from April and May. The prices have increased sharply in recent weeks.
According to market sources, one bag (26 kg) of Atchaya Ponni, popularly known as Karnataka Ponni, was sold at ₹1,700 in the wholesale market. It was quoted at ₹1,500 in May. In the retail market, 1 kg of Atchaya Ponni was sold at ₹70 to ₹75 in Tiruchi on Friday. It has gone up by ₹10 to Rs.15 per kg since May.
Similarly, the price of Seeraga Samba is being sold between ₹160 and ₹200 per kg. It was sold between ₹120 and ₹150 in May. The rate of Tulasi, another popular fine quality rice variety, has gone up by ₹10 to ₹15 since May. The rate of common variety (big size) has also increased by ₹10 to ₹15 within three months.
Traders cite short supply from cultivating centres, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for the rise in prices in the State. It is said that there has been no supply from the delta region for the last few months. Similarly, Tiruchi used to get a steady supply of paddy from Karnataka in November-December and April-May seasons. However, the millers in Tiruchi hardly received supply from Karnataka during the last two seasons, thereby causing a gap between demand and supply.
“The price of one bag of paddy (63kg) has gone up to ₹2,100 from ₹1,450 since January. It has gone up by ₹650 per bag. It is unprecedented. There are big farmers, who have stocked up their produce. They are not ready to sell as they expect that the price will go up further,” says T. Suresh of Bala Boiler Modern Rice Mill in Tiruchi.
“The prevailing drought situation in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is a matter of great concern. The area of kuruvai cultivation has shrunk this year. Questions are raised over the possibility of raising samba crops as well. It might increase prices of rice further,” says S. Baskar of M. R. Rice Mandi in Tiruchi.
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Source : The Hindu
