Food prices surge in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 27: The residents of Kashmir are confronting a major surge in food prices following the government’s decision to remove regulatory controls on essential commodity rates.

With prices now set independently by traders and vendors, the cost of staple foods has soared to unprecedented levels, intensifying the financial strain on households already dealing with inflation.

Vegetable prices have reached record highs, with peas now selling at Rs 180 per kg, tomatoes at Rs 80, collard greens at Rs 80, and potatoes at Rs 50.

Mutton, a staple in Kashmiri cuisine, has hit Rs 700 per kg, further straining family budgets and forcing many to limit their purchases or substitute with lower-cost alternatives.

Until mid-2023, the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department regulated prices of essential goods, issuing a fixed price list and ensuring traders complied.

This regulatory system served as a safety net, stabilising costs and protecting consumers from sudden price spikes.

Traders caught violating the government-mandated rates were subject to penalties, which helped keep essentials within reach for most families.

However, in a shift in policy, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs recently deemed the three-decade-old notification S O 145(E), which empowered the FCS&CA to fix prices, as "no longer valid and applicable." This decision followed a request for clarification by the J&K Agriculture Department, which sought guidance on the notification’s current relevance.

As a result, the FCS&CA was stripped of its authority to regulate rates, leaving the market unregulated and giving vendors full control to set prices based on supply, demand, and market conditions.

In the absence of price controls, vendors and dealers have the autonomy to adjust rates at will, which has led to a significant price surge across essential commodities.

This unregulated environment has created inconsistencies across markets, with items like tomatoes selling at Rs 70 per kg in one area and Rs 50 in another.

“Earlier, the price list kept vendors in check, but now it’s different every day, and there’s no one to ensure prices stay fair,” explained Manzoor Ahmad of Soura, Srinagar.

Without a monitoring body, consumers are left to cope with sudden, unpredictable changes in prices, with no way to hold vendors accountable.

Officials have raised concerns that the lack of regulation may also encourage hoarding and profiteering. “Kashmir has unique geographical challenges – limited transportation routes and frequent road closures due to weather make us heavily dependent on outside supplies. These factors alone make price control unique and necessary here,” a senior FCS&CA official said.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the primary supply line into the Valley, is often blocked due to landslides and snowfall, leading to periodic shortages that can easily be exploited in an unregulated market.

For many residents, the unchecked price rise has left them feeling helpless.

“The cost of everything has gone up, but our incomes haven’t,” said Rehana Begum, a homemaker in Srinagar. “It’s not just a matter of preference anymore; we can’t afford basic items. This is affecting how we eat and live.”

The rise in mutton prices, a central ingredient in Kashmiri cuisine, has also forced families to reduce their consumption or switch to other sources of protein.

Meanwhile, small businesses that rely on these ingredients, such as local restaurants and food stalls, are struggling to maintain profitability without raising prices – a move they fear could alienate their customers.