Supplyco Onam market opens: Price of sugar, matta rice up, cherupayar price drops

Kottayam: Supplyco's Onam market begins on Thursday, bringing changes to the price of several key items. The new price will be effective starting September 5 morning when the Onam market opens at district centres.

The price of sugar and matta (red) rice will increase. Sugar rate will rise from Rs 27 to Rs 33 per kilogram, while the price of matta rice will go up from Rs 30 to Rs 33 per kilogram. The price of green gram (cherupayar), split-black gram (urad dal/uzhunnu), and dried red chilli will be reduced. Green gram prices will drop from Rs 93 to Rs 90, split-black gram from Rs 95 to Rs 90, and dried red chilli from Rs 82 to Rs 78.

Supplyco explained that these adjustments reflect changes in the general market prices, and the Food Department has approved these price changes. Sugar retails at Rs 44 in the general market, while Supplyco’s new price of Rs 33 is still below this rate. Similarly, agencies charge up to Rs 36 for rice. Given these circumstances, Supplyco has stated that it cannot avoid rising its prices.

G R Anil, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, has indicated that such price adjustments are necessary. Meanwhile, Rs 205 crore allocated by the government to Supplyco for Onam market preparations has not yet been received. The Food Department has assured that the funds will be provided without delay.

It is expected that the additional discounts on non-subsidized products during Onam fair will benefit Supplyco's finances. There are 200 products in this category, and customers can receive an extra 10 percent discount on purchases made between 2 pm and 4 pm.