Kochi: As Onam approaches, the anticipation for the traditional feast, where papad often becomes a point of contention, is high. To avoid disputes over availability, the market has been stocked with a diverse range of papads, from small to large sizes. While Kerala typically produces around 10,000 kilograms of papad daily, production triples during the Onam season. This year, papads worth Rs 3 crore are set to hit the shelves.

In the Onam market, papad packets are mostly priced between Rs 20 and Rs 50, with a Rs 20 packet containing about 12 papads. Due to the rise in raw material costs, manufacturers have chosen to reduce the number of papads per packet rather than increase prices. To meet the soaring demand, papads from neighboring states have also been introduced into the Kerala market.

Beware of Counterfeits

The Onam season often sees an influx of low-quality papads. To combat this, the Kerala Papad Manufacturers Association (KPMA) has implemented measures to ensure authenticity and quality. The association has introduced a seal on papad packets to reassure consumers.

Papads bearing the KPMA seal are made with urad dal, salt, papad soda, and water. Due to the rising cost of urad dal, some manufacturers have been substituting up to 50% of the ingredient with maida (refined flour). KPMA is working to curb this practice to maintain high-quality standards.

Currently, 300 manufacturers supply papads with the KPMA seal. Efforts are underway to expand this initiative to include an additional 400 manufacturers. To further ensure quality, KPMA is preparing to launch a mobile app by December to help consumers verify the authenticity of their papads.