Avarekai price shoots up to ₹400/kg in Bengaluru markets

City markets face an unexpected price surge as avarekai rates jump sharply due to poor harvest, high demand, and reduced supply; drumstick prices also hit record highs.

Bengaluru’s vegetable markets are experiencing an unusual price shock this season, with avarekai becoming unexpectedly expensive even before the peak winter demand. The city, known for its love for avarekai during the cold months, is now seeing rates jump to anywhere between ₹80 and ₹400 per kg, leaving buyers hesitant and worried. Many consumers who usually purchase avarekai in bulk during this time are either cutting down or avoiding it altogether.

Also Read:Sixth metro train reaches Hebbagodi, Yellow Line waiting time reduced to 12 mins

The steep increase is a direct result of heavy crop loss caused by continuous rains in August, which badly affected avarekai fields. Farmers are now facing early-season difficulties as yields have dropped sharply. While demand remains high in Bengaluru, the supply reaching the markets has fallen significantly, pushing prices upward.

Shelled avarekai is seeing even stronger demand, fetching high rates due to limited availability. Traders say the mismatch between demand and supply has widened, causing the price rise to touch new highs this season.

Also Read:Drumstick prices cross ₹600/kg as supply to Bengaluru crashes

Adding to the shock, drumstick has also seen one of its steepest price hikes in years. The city, which normally receives nearly 100 tonnes of drumstick daily, is now getting only 30-40 tonnes because of weather disruptions. As a result, wholesale prices have crossed ₹500 per kg and retail rates have touched nearly ₹600. In some markets, a single pair of drumsticks is being sold for around ₹100, further highlighting the severity of the shortage.