Tamarind turns bitter in Telugu states

Hyderabad/Nellore: After vegetables, it appears it is the turn of the prices of tamarind to go through the roof in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Though the prices of vegetables have somewhat stabilised, tamarind's price has been showing an abnormal behaviour for the last one and a half month.

There are more than five varieties of tamarind including seeded and seedless. The most sought after one, the seedless variety, costs anywhere between Rs.160 and 190 per kg in the retail market, while its price is around Rs 260 to Rs 500 per kg in supermarkets and online stores.

Hithen, a retail store owner in Paradise in Secunderabad told The Hans India that around a month ago tamarind was sold at Rs 240 per kg in retail market due poor arrivals. "In retail market, the price has come down to Rs 145 to Rs 190 a kg now, as arrivals have picked up," Hithen said.

But at supermarket the price continues to be high and the managers do not any give any reason. They blame poor arrivals though retail market merchants say arrivals are picking up. The price at Ratnadeep is Rs 318 per kg on Monday.

A housewife Saraswati, speaking to this reporter over phone, said that increase in prices have turned out to be a shocker for them. “We cannot afford tamarind anymore,” she says. A customer at Ratnadeep, Arshiya Begum, said that being Hyderabadi I use tamarind in every curry be it khati  daal or kadi, pulusu but the prices are burning a hole in my monthly budget.

“Tamarind is the major component of recipe we make at home and its high price is surely affecting the home cuisine”, she rued. In the coastal district of Nellore, the picture is more or less similar. There seems to be no explanation for the prices to defy the law of gravity. Tamarind price in Nellore has been increasing continuously from Rs 100 to Rs 120 now.

AP Chief Minister’s dashboard shows three varieties of the product selling anywhere between Rs 100 and Rs 210 per kg. The dashboard shows the grade-1 seedless variety's price between Rs 179 and Rs 210 but these varieties are being sold at Rs 210 and Rs 250 in the open market.Interestingly, tamarind prices are under control in adjoining southern states, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The price is around Rs 150 in TN and Karnataka and it has been more affordable in Bangalore city at Rs 120 even during the last week of January. Wholesale trader K Nagamuni from Punganur town in Chittoor district says turnaround has begun. 

"New stocks are now coming from Tumkuru and Mysore areas in Karnataka and the prices are coming down slowly in southern states. He said tamarind's price is now ranging between Rs 110-150 in in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and wondered why the prices are soaring in other parts of Andhra Pradesh.

By: Aneri Shah & PV Prasad