Prices

Ebb and flow of rice prices

by A. Wedaarachchi

The whole sale prices of all the varieties except for Nadu Grade 1 and raw varieties have declined due to high supply from Ampara and Kurunegala areas. According to observation the market supplies of Samba variety were limited and the available stocks were of poor quality due to non-availability of sufficient Samba paddy in the market. Market information revealed that the supply of quality Samba rice was not available under the ceiling price of Rs. 70 per Kg. Price of Samba ranged between Rs. 69 to Rs. 76 per Kg. Price of Supiri Samba and Keeri Samba were stable and the prices ranged between Rs. 82 to Rs. 88 per Kg and Rs. 88 to Rs. 108 per Kg respectively, compared to corresponding period of last year. The current prices of all varieties except for raw red have increased by 5 per cent to 8 per cent with the highest price increase for raw white.

There was no significant change in the retial rices of all the rice varieties. The highest retail price was reported for Samba Grade 1 Rs. 85 per Kg and the lowest price of Rs. 60 per Kg was reported for raw white. Supiri Samba and Keeri Samba were available in the market and the prices ranged between Rs. 90 to Rs. 105 per Kg and Rs. 100 to Rs. 130 per Kg respectively. Compared to the same period of 2007 prices of all the varieties except for Nadu and raw white have declined by 2 per cent to 5 per cent.

The targeted extent of paddy for Maha 2008/09 season is 752975 ha. The progress of cultivation as at end of December 2008 was 650742 ha (86%). The expected paddy production is 2.45 million mt, a 16% increase compared to the previous Maha season (2007).

Potato

Supply of local potato from Nuwara Eliya has increased due to commencement of the harvesting season and the supply of sufficient imported potatoes from India and Pakistan. Hence the wholesale prices of both Nuwara Eliya and imported potato have decreased further by about 2 per cent and 6 per cent respectively. Wholesale prices range between Rs. 38 to 50 per Kg for imported potatoes and Rs. 60 to 70 per Kg for Nuwara Eliya Potato.

Minimum prices of Nuwara Eliya potato have decreased by Rs. 5 per Kg. Both minimum and maximum prices of imported potatoes have decreased by Rs. 2 per Kg and Rs. 8 per Kg respectively. Market demand for the imported potato was very high compared to Nuwara Eliya potatoes due to low prices.

Imports

According to the Department of Customs, a quantity of 2,708 mt of potato was imported during the period January 26 and February 1, and it has increased by about 24 mt. The CIF price of imported potato was Rs. 22.61 per Kg and it had decreased by cent 51 per Kg. Retail prices of both Nuwara Eliya and imported potatoes have decreased by Rs. 7.32 per Kg and Rs. 6.58 per Kg respectively due to low wholesale prices. Prices ranged between Rs. 70 to Rs. 100 per Kg for Nuwara Eliya potato, Rs. 55 to Rs. 70 per Kg for imported potato in Colombo and suburbs. Both minimum and maximum prices of Nuwara Eliya potato have decreased by about Rs. 20 per Kg and Rs. 10 per Kg respectively. Minimum retail prices and maximum retail prices of imported potato have also decreased by about Rs. 5 per Kg and Rs. 20 per Kg respectively.

About 1,203 ha and 487 ha of potato were cultivated at the end of December 2008 in Badulla and Nuwara Eliya districts respectively.

Pulses (Green gram)

Wholesale price of green gram has decreased by about 2 per cent while the prices of both cowpea and red dhall have also decreased by about 1 per cent due to availability of sufficient stocks in the market. Supply of green gram and cowpea has increased from main producing areas such as Ampara, Moneragala and Anuradhapura result due to successful harvesting season. Average prices of green gram, cowpea, and red dhall were Rs. 100.58 per Kg, Rs. 102.33 per Kg and Rs. 167.38 per Kg respectively in the market. Compared to the same period of 2007, the current prices of cowpea, and red dhall have increased by about 2 per cent and 28 per cent respectively, while the price of green gram has decreased by about 4 per cent.

According to the Department of Customs a quantity of 283 Mt of green gram and 216 Mt of red dhall was imported during the period of 26th January to 1st of February in 2009. average CIF prices were Rs. 69.27 per Kg and Rs. 146.61 per Kg for green gram and red dhall respectively.

Vegetables

Retail price fluctuation of all the varieties of pulses reflects the same position of the wholesale market in the retail market. Retail prices green gram, cowpea and red dhall have decreased by about Rs. 3.79 per Kg, Rs. 3.53 per Kg and Rs. 2.21 per Kg respectively due to high stocks in Colombo and suburbs.

Fresh fish

Wholesale prices of most of the vegetables have shown a declining rend further due to arrival of sufficient stocks from major producing areas. The highest price decrease of Rs. 11 per Kg was observed for beans and cucumber. High stocks of beans were supplied from Hanguranketha, Bandarawela and Balangoda areas. Retail prices of most of the vegetables have shown a decline trend.

The highest price decrease of Rs. 20.59 per Kg was observed for capsicum, followed by tomato (Rs. 19.42 per Kg) due to availability of ample amount of stocks.

The price of brinjal has declined by Rs. 5.71 per Kg due to large stocks. Retail prices of most of the small and large varieties have decreased. Price decrease was shown in the range of Re. 1 to Rs. 29 per Kg with highest price decrease noted for Thora. Prices of Salaya, Paraw, Shrimps (small) and Thalapath have increased marginally in the range of Rs. 2 to Rs. 7 per Kg with highest price increase noted for shrimps (small) compared it to the same period of 2007, prices of all the varieties have increased in the range of 5 per cent to 38 per cent with highest price increase noted for Hurulla.

Meat

Retail prices of broiler and curry chicken have not changed. While prices of beef (without bones) and mutton have increased marginally by about Rs. 8 per Kg and Rs. 13 per Kg respectively. Price of pork has decreased about Rs. 26 per Kg.

Negligible fluctuations of dry rations

By P. Krishnaswamy

The Old Moor Street Traders' Association and the Essential Food Commodities Importers and Traders' Association the two associations which supply the entire wholesale traders of essential food items of the country, told Sunday Observer that there has been mixed price changes during last year and this year, in essential food items but only to a negligible level.

Price fluctuations in relation to some of the items were due to effects of increased supply of certain domestically produced food items, increased demand during festive seasons as also world market price fluctuations. OMSTA President K. Palaniyadya said that they have a membership of 150 traders throughout the island, belonging to all three communities. He said that they were importing 90 percent of the items from Tamil Nadu because of comparatively lower prices and taking the advantage of quick shipment of goods.

According to Dryfish Traders' Association, Pettah, the prices of the three main varieties of dryfish went up by 20 percent this January as against the prices that prevailed in the first quarter of 2008 and during the rest of the year the prices kept increasing at a nominal percentage reaching the current 20 percent increase.

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 				Prices in 2008		Prices from January 2009
				Wholesale (Kg)

	Samba rice		Rs.  60 -  70		Rs.  60 -  70
	Raw rice white		Rs.  60			Rs.  60
	Potatoes		Rs.  45 -  75		Rs.  45 -  75
	Dry chillies		Rs. 140 - 185		Rs. 160 - 185
	Sugar			Rs.  59 -  60		Rs.  65 -  68
	Dhal mysore		Rs. 110 - 210		Rs. 110 - 153
	Big onions		Rs.  40 -  55		Rs.  60 -  70
	Red onions		Rs.  80			Rs.  80
	Chick peas		Rs. 125			Rs. 185
	Green peas		Rs.  95 - 100		Rs.  95 - 110

		        Prices in January 2008	       Prices in January 2009
			Wholesale (Kg)
	
	
	Sprats		Rs. 168				Rs. 210
	Katta		Rs. 174				Rs. 220
	Balaya		Rs. 225 - 230			Rs. 280