After enduring soaring garlic prices, relief may be on the horizon for Indian consumers. The Kalamna market received the first shipment of the season's garlic, a staple in many kitchens. The city's garlic retail prices recently hit a record Rs 360 per kg, causing financial strain for many households. However, the arrival of the kharif garlic harvest in the city's wholesale market is anticipated to lower prices. The initial shipment of garlic from Chhindwara has already arrived, marking the start of the garlic season which typically runs from mid-January to the end of March when supply peaks and prices usually plummet.
Traders anticipate a decrease in garlic prices in the coming days, according to Vishwabandhu Gupta, Secretary of the Potato-Onion Adatiya Association at the Kalamna market. Currently, wholesale garlic prices at Kalamna market stand at Rs 280 per kg, while retail prices remain around Rs 300 per kg. Another trader attributed the recent price hike to low garlic sowing in Madhya Pradesh. However, he predicts a drop in garlic prices from the end of January due to a shift in the market landscape. A significant decrease in India's garlic exports has increased domestic supply, prompting a drop in prices.
Traders at Mandsaur mandi, India's largest garlic market that sets the garlic prices, also expect prices to decrease post-January. The market's confidence in a price drop is largely due to the dwindling prospects of garlic exports. Chinese and Iranian garlic, with larger cloves, have dominated international markets. Additionally, their prices are approximately 40% lower than Indian garlic. Madhya Pradesh is India's largest garlic producer, contributing 62% of the country's total production.
[ Rs 100 = €1.10 ]
Source: thehitavada.com
