Poha Prices Surge In Pune: Breakfast Costs Likely To Rise For Common People
Pune: Poha, a breakfast staple for many, has seen a notable price hike following Diwali. Wholesale and retail prices have increased by ₹5 to ₹7 per kilogram, making breakfast more expensive for citizens.
In major cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Thane, thousands of kilograms of poha are sold daily. Pune’s Market Yard alone receives 50-60 tons of poha daily from Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. However, a recent drop in supply has caused wholesale prices to rise by ₹500 to ₹700 per quintal, according to a poha trader at Market Yard.
Poha is made by processing rice, primarily sourced from regions like Bhatapara in Chhattisgarh and Navsari in Gujarat, where large-scale processing units are located. Post-Diwali, a shortage of rice disrupted production, forcing these units to halt operations temporarily. While production has now resumed, lower-than-expected harvests have led to reduced supply, causing prices to climb.
Current Prices:
- Wholesale: ₹5,000 to ₹5,200 per quintal (up from ₹4,300 to ₹4,500 a month ago)
- Retail: ₹55 to ₹60 per kilogram
Prices are expected to remain high for at least a month until the supply normalizes. Traders anticipate a price drop once rice availability improves and processing units stabilize operations.
