Soaring prices: Sugar gets bitter in Kerala

Women are used to making tea or coffee with less sugar, but are now forced to even make a household budget that has less sugar.

Here's a report from Kerala where the price of sugar has touched almost Rs 40, which is more than a 100 per cent increase. Ironically it comes just ahead of the biggest festival of the state, Onam.

Anandalakshmi, who is 78-year-old, cannot believe her ears as her granddaughters check accounts after shopping for provisions. Oil, pulses, rice, chilly, and the biggest shock from sugar, bought for Rs 38 a kg, exactly double its price in July. Therefore, only one kg is purchased.

"When my whole family gets together for an occasion, can I manage without sugar? It is unbelievably priced," said Anandlakshmi.

Kerala imports sugar from Tamil Nadu. This year the produce is over 60 per cent less than normal. Wholesalers say they will be forced to further increase the price.

"The price has to go up, because there is crop failure," said Vijaykumar, a wholesaler.

Women are taking the pain to stand for hours in queue. There are five government-sponsored stalls in the state where sugar and jaggery is sold at a subsidised rate.

The government admits that it cannot afford the subsidy on all commodities for too long. The exchequer is already burdened by Rs 228 crore since last year.

The shortage is set to further increase the price of sugar, even up to Rs 42 a kg by the weekend. Quite apparent that one who tastes 'payasam' made in Kerala for Onam, would think it could have been sweeter.