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Informist, Friday, Apr. 4, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The cost of a home-cooked vegetarian thali declined 3% on-year in March, while that of a non-vegetarian thali remained flat, according to a report by CRISIL Intelligence on Friday. The price of a vegetarian meal in March was INR 26.6, while that of a non-vegetarian meal was INR 54.8, it said. 

 

The price of a vegetarian meal fell mainly due to a sharp decline in tomato prices as the arrival of tomatoes rose 29?ross the country, the report said. Tomato prices declined 34% on-year to INR 21 per kg in March from INR 32 per kg in March last year. Arrivals were higher particularly in the southern states, which had a robust rabi crop due to increased acreage and better yield amid healthy reservoir levels, the report said. 

 

A further fall in the cost of vegetarian thali was, however, limited by a jump in prices of potato, onion, and vegetable oil, which rose up 2%, 6%, and 19% on year, respectively. 

 

The drop in tomato prices also helped keep the cost of a non-vegetarian thali from increasing. The fall in tomato prices was offset by rising prices of other commodities such as a 2% on-year increase in broiler prices. Broiler prices account for 50% of the non-vegetarian thali cost. Broiler prices rose due to a low base from the previous year when oversupply had caused prices to dip, the report said.

 

The cost of a vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali declined by 2% and 5%, respectively, from a month ago. The decline was led by a fall in prices of onion, potato, and tomato, which were down by 5%, 7%, and 8%, respectively, amid fresh arrivals.  The cost of a non-vegetarian thali declined on month due to a 7% drop in broiler prices. "Our interactions suggest elevated supply in the north, coupled with slower demand amid a bird flu scare in the south, led to the dip," the report said. 

 

While prices of onion, tomato, and potato have fallen in the past few months, the CRISIL arm expects prices to bottom out and start picking up in April, as witnessed last year in the case of potato and tomato. "Onion prices are likely to be supported by strong export momentum, while potato prices are expected to trend upward as cold storage stocks enter the market. Tomato prices, too, are expected to see a moderate increase due to lower rabi arrivals," Pushan Sharma, director of research at Crisil Intelligence, said.   End

 

Reported by Pallavi Singhal

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

 

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