The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: The price of a home-cooked vegetarian thali increased by 20% in October, driven primarily by a surge in vegetable prices, according to a report by rating agency Crisil. After a 12-month decline, the cost of a non-vegetarian thali also rose by 5%, according to a report in the Indian Express.
The rise in the cost of a vegetarian thali is attributed to soaring prices of key vegetables, which make up 40% of the total cost. Onion and potato prices saw sharp increases of 46% and 51% year-on-year, respectively, due to reduced supply following heavy rainfall in September. Rainfall in Maharashtra and Karnataka has delayed the onion harvest, while rabi potato stocks, which constitute 95% of annual production, are dwindling, with fresh supplies not expected until December or January, Crisil noted.
Tomato prices more than doubled from Rs 29 per kg in October 2023 to Rs 64 per kg in October 2024, as rains disrupted arrivals from Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. However, Crisil said prices may stabilise in November as new supplies come in from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
Pulses, which account for 9% of the thali cost, recorded an 11% increase due to low opening stocks and festive demand. Prices are expected to ease in December with the arrival of fresh stocks.
A reduction in fuel costs prevented a further increase in the thali price. The price of a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder in Delhi dropped from Rs 903 in September last year to Rs 803 in March this year, Crisil noted.
Also read: How Much More Are Indians Going to Pay for Tomatoes This Diwali?
The cost of a non-vegetarian thali saw a slower rise, partly due to a 9% year-on-year drop in broiler prices, which account for half the cost. However, the increase in vegetable costs, which represent about 22% of the non-veg thali, contributed to the overall rise. Vegetable oil prices also rose by 10% month-on-month in October due to increased import duty and festive demand. On a month-on-month basis, the cost of the vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis increased by 6% and 4%, respectively.
Onions, a key ingredient, saw a 6% month-on-month rise in October, as heavy rains in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh caused crop damage and delayed the kharif harvest by 10-15 days. Similarly, tomato prices climbed 39% month-on-month amid disrupted supply from major tomato-growing regions.