Garlic price rises to Rs 550/kg in Uttar Pradesh, food lovers in distress
Lucknow: The price of garlic, one of the key ingredients in Chinese and Mughlai cuisine, has skyrocketed in major cities of Uttar Pradesh, reaching Rs 500-550 per kg. This price increase has left people dejected
Lucknow: The price of garlic, one of the key ingredients in Chinese and Mughlai cuisine, has skyrocketed in major cities of Uttar Pradesh, reaching Rs 500-550 per kg. This price hike has left people in a dilemma as they have to put away their favorite dishes for a while. Garlic is sourced from local farms where supply is in short supply as well as from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other districts of UP. Traders attribute the price hike to last year's delayed monsoon, which pushed garlic sowing to August. As a result, the harvest took place in January, causing a supply shortage. The traders assure that prices may drop after two weeks when the new harvest arrives.
Traders also attribute the spike lahsun (garlic) prices to the delayed harvest and arrival of the kharif crop. Garlic, like onion, is grown during both the kharif and rabi seasons. The kharif garlic is planted in June-July and harvested in October-November, while in September-November and March-April for the rabi crop.
City restaurants now face a tough decision: whether to absorb the higher costs or pass them on to customers. Many restaurants cannot reduce the use of garlic because it would affect the taste of their dishes. Therefore, they have no choice but to pass on the price increase to the consumer.
Speaking to IANS, the owner of a popular Chinese joint in Lucknow said, “We obviously cannot absorb the price hike because we use garlic in large quantities. We have no choice but to pass on the price increase to the consumer.”
The increase in garlic prices has had an impact on the food industry as a whole. Restaurants are now coming up with ways to deal with the higher costs. Some choose to increase the prices of dishes that rely heavily on garlic, while others look for alternative ingredients or reduce the amount of garlic used.
Wholesale prices of garlic in different sabzi mandis
- Dubagga Mandi – Rs 300-310/kg
- Sitapur Mandi – Rs. 300-320/kg
- Gomtinagar Mandi – Rs. 330-350/kg
Street vendors selling noodles and momos have also been directly affected. “How can you even think of preparing momos without garlic. We have been forced to increase prices but our customers are not complaining yet and that is a big relief,” Rajkumar, who sells momos in the trans-Gomti area, told the news agency.
Mughlai restaurants are also feeling the heat. “Be it the abnormal price hike of tomatoes, onions or now garlic, we invariably take a hit as these three ingredients are essential in Mughlai dishes,” said Javed Khan, owner of a popular eatery.
He further said, “Garlic is a crucial ingredient in our non-vegetarian dishes and the price hike has forced us to choose between increasing prices or sacrificing quality, both of which are detrimental to our business.”
Households are also affected because they have to cut back on the use of garlic. “At Rs 550 per kg, garlic has become a luxury and I am forced to adjust my grocery budget. The seasoning in 'dal' does not taste the same without garlic,” said Premlata Sharma, a homemaker.
A trader, Ravi Kashyap, said despite high prices, there was increased demand for garlic due to the ongoing wedding season.
Traders are hopeful that prices will stabilize once the new harvest arrives. Until then, however, consumers may have to bear the burden of increased garlic prices. This price increase is a reminder of the impact that weather conditions and agricultural practices can have on the availability and costs of food ingredients. It also highlights the interconnectedness of different regions in the food supply chain as garlic is sourced from different parts of the country to meet urban demand.