Nagpur households hit as dal, spices, dry fruits and shampoo prices rise ahead of festivals
Prices of pulses, spices, oil, rice, dry fruits and toiletries in Nagpur district have gone up by 15 to 25 per cent in about two months, straining household budgets.
Household budgets in Nagpur district have been strained even before the festival season begins. In the past two months or so, many everyday items, including pulses, spices, oil, rice and dry fruits, have become costlier. Prices of several food items have risen by 15 to 25 per cent.
Starting with pulses, tur dal has gone up from Rs 110 to Rs 140 a kg in the market. Urad dal, earlier Rs 120, is now selling at Rs 140. Moong dal has risen from Rs 95 to Rs 110-115 a kg.
Spice prices have also gone up. Turmeric has risen from Rs 290 to Rs 320 a kg, and coriander from Rs 150 to as much as Rs 220 a kg. Rice is now Rs 70 to Rs 75 a kg. Soyabean oil has settled at Rs 170 a kg.
Dry fruits are in demand during the festival season, and their prices have risen too. Cashew has gone up from Rs 850 to about Rs 900-1,050 a kg. Almonds, up by Rs 300, are at Rs 1,200. Pistachio has risen from Rs 1,400 to about Rs 1,800 a kg. Raisins are at Rs 450 a kg. Prices of walnuts, makhana, dates and figs have also gone up.
According to grocer Pawan Wadhwani, cardamom prices have risen from Rs 3,600 to as much as Rs 4,700 a kg in two months because of floods in Nepal. Cloves have also become Rs 150 costlier and are selling at Rs 950 a kg.
The price rise has hit beyond the kitchen as well. According to shopkeepers, a bottle of shampoo that sold for Rs 240 is now going for about Rs 390. Hair oil prices are also reported to have risen by about 15 per cent. A bottle of oil that cost Rs 40 is now available for about Rs 60.
Homemaker Kanchan Joshi said that with the price of everything rising, running the household has become difficult. Everything from pulses, rice and oil to spices has become costlier. She said she has had to cut other expenses, and the grocery budget is much higher than before.
According to homemaker Shailja Upadhyay, inflation is rising day by day to the point that the entire kitchen budget has been upset. She said prices of everything are sky-high, and prices from grain to gas cylinders have shot up. Whether it is oil or shampoo, she said, one has to pay more for everything.
