Pune Residents Feel The Pinch As Poha Prices Soar Post-Diwali

Pune, 20th December 2024: Pune, 20th December 2024: Be it a quick, delicious morning breakfast or a late-night trip to Nal Stop to satisfy midnight cravings, poha remains a favourite dish among Punekars. However, after Diwali, poha lovers across the country, including Pune, have been hit by a price hike. The cost of poha has risen in both wholesale and retail markets, making this staple breakfast item more expensive for the common man.

In retail markets, poha prices have increased by five to seven rupees per kilogram, forcing citizens to spend more. Every day, thousands of kilograms of poha are sold in major cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Thane. Specifically in Pune, 50 to 60 tons of poha arrive daily from Gujarat and Chhattisgarh at the Bhusar market in the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard. According to Deepak Bora, a poha trader at the market yard, the price has surged by ₹500 to ₹700 per quintal due to reduced supply in recent days.

Poha is primarily sourced from Bhatapara in Chhattisgarh and Navsari in Gujarat, from where it is distributed across the country. Poha is made by processing paddy rice in specialized mills located in these regions. After Diwali, a shortage of paddy led to the closure of these processing mills, although they have now resumed operations.

Farmers in Gujarat and Chhattisgarh have reduced production this year due to lower-than-expected prices, resulting in a paddy shortage. This imbalance between demand and supply has driven up poha prices. The wholesale price of poha has risen from ₹4,300–₹4,000 per quintal last month to ₹5,000–₹5,200 per quintal currently. In retail markets, poha is now priced at ₹55–₹60 per kilogram.

According to poha trader Deepak Bora, “Poha prices will remain high for at least a month. Processing industries in Gujarat and Chhattisgarh have now resumed supplying poha after being shut down post-Diwali due to a rice shortage. Prices are expected to stabilize once arrivals return to normal.”