After tomatoes, the rise in the prices of spices is now a problem for ‘tadka’!

Lucknow (Uttam Hindu News): Tadka is now in trouble after rising prices of vegetables, especially tomatoes. The kitchen budget has started getting disturbed due to the unexpected increase in the prices of spices. The most widely used cumin has now become one of the costliest ingredients in the kitchen. Its price has shot up from Rs 400 per kg to Rs 750 per kg in April.

The prices of many other spices like melon seeds and cloves have also increased. Melon seeds, which currently cost Rs 750 per kg, were being sold at Rs 300 per kg three months back. Similarly, the price of clove has increased from Rs 1,000 per kg in April to Rs 1,200 now. Traders are blaming the low yield, poor transportation due to Cyclone Biperjoy and now the monsoon rains.

A grocery shop owner in Hazratganj said, “We cannot do much, as we are buying them at a very high price. The prices of cumin and watermelon seeds have almost doubled in three months.” Due to sudden change in weather patterns due to excess rainfall during sowing, farmers in major growing regions have shifted to other crops like mustard. He said that due to excessive rains, the prices of other spices like turmeric and chilli may go up.