Rice stocks have fallen to alarming levels in Kerala after Andhra Pradesh government earmarked the lion’s share of its 19 million tonne bumper paddy harvest for its own ?Rs 2 per kilo? rice scheme.
In Kerala, besides the retail price of rice varieties like Andhra ?surekha? sneaking up to Rs 21 per kilo, the most popular Andhra varieties like ?jaya? has nearly disappeared from the shelves.
In Supplyco, Kerala government’s grocery arm, only ?matta variety? rice is available. Although Andhra mills, ravished by the fancy price offered by Kerala government, are game to supply ?jaya? and ?surekha?, Andhra government’s initiative to kickstart its scheme of ?Rs 2 per kilo rice? this week has ended the business plans.
It is in southern Kerala that the rice stocks are on their last leg as the southward movement of rice through rail has completely stopped since last week. Even during the arrivals last week, the consignment is less by 40%, says P Mohanan, grainmerchant in Kochi. Instead of the usual 2,500 tonne arriving in 250 loads, only 1,500 tonne were supplied in Kochi wholesale market, he told FE.
While Andhra millers are banking on the hunger for ?jaya? variety to rule Kerala market till the next harvest season, trade experts feel that there is a slow shift in taste preferences to hitherto-less-popular varieties from Tamil Nadu.
Bodhana and Tamil Kuruva varieties from Tamil Nadu are arriving in Kozhikode market signifying a gradual substitution of the enormous ?jaya? rice segment.
Out of the State’s 30 lakh tonne annual rice off take, only six lakh tonne is produced within Kerala. As if this was not food disequilibrium enough, the State has lost nearly 17,000-tonne harvest ready paddy this season in the summer rain havoc.
To aggravate matters, Centre had last month cut the State’s rice quota by 80%.
Stung by the market crisis, Kerala government has this month put together a new outfit ?Paddy Board? to periodically monitor its own paddy production. But this is yet to prove solution to the present crisis in the short run.