Kerala - Kochi   

Vishu to be costly

KOCHI: The unprecedented price rise has cast a shadow on Vishu celebrations in the city, with the average citizen finding it difficult to manage the monthly budget.

Signs of an impending shortage of rice have added to the problems. The merchants at the Ernakulam market have warned that the rice stock will be sufficient only for the coming week.

Prices of vegetables continue to remain high. The wholesale rate of a kilogram of ginger touched Rs. 32 on Saturday, while the retail rate was Rs. 40.

In the past one week, the price of ginger went up by Rs. 12 in the open market.

Vegetable prices have skyrocketed over the past two weeks. The wholesale price of a kilogram of long beans at the Ernakulam market was Rs. 26, while the retail price touched Rs. 30.

Beans were sold at Rs. 26 and Rs. 30 a kilogram, respectively.

Vegetable merchants at the market said the recent rain in Tamil Nadu had affected the smooth flow of vegetable loads to Kerala.

Pointing out that shortage of stocks, and not the price rise, was the latest issue affecting rice sales in the State, the merchants in the district said a sudden drop in supply of stocks from Andhra Pradesh was the main reason for the situation.

Venkitesh Pai, a merchant in the Ernakulam market, said that supply from Andhra Pradesh had been reduced to one-fourth over the past two weeks.

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