Pune: Poha, a breakfast staple for many households, has become costlier as wholesale and retail prices surge across markets following Diwali. Retail prices have risen by ₹5 to ₹7 per kilogram, leaving citizens paying more for their morning meals.
In major cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Thane, thousands of kilograms of poha are sold daily. Pune’s Market Yard, a hub for poha distribution, sources 50 to 60 tons of poha daily from Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. However, a drop in supply over the past few weeks has caused wholesale prices to rise by ₹500 to ₹700 per quintal, said Deepak Bora, a poha trader at Market Yard.
The increase in prices stems from disruptions in the production of poha. Processing units in Bhatapara (Chhattisgarh) and Navsari (Gujarat), key suppliers of poha, were shut after Diwali due to a paddy shortage. Although these units have resumed operations, reduced paddy production by farmers, citing low returns, has resulted in limited supply, leading to a price surge.
Current Poha Prices
Wholesale Prices (Per Quintal):
Current: ₹5,000 to ₹5,200
Last Month: ₹4,300 to ₹4,500
Retail Prices (Per Kilogram): ₹55 to ₹60
The price trend is expected to remain upward for at least another month until supply normalizes. “Once the supply of paddy stabilizes, prices will decrease,” Bora assured.