Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 7: The cost of preparing home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis saw a notable decline in September, thanks to falling prices of key food commodities, according to a report by Crisil released on Tuesday.

Compared to the same month last year, vegetarian thali costs dropped by 10%, while non-vegetarian thalis became 6% cheaper, driven primarily by a steep fall in prices of vegetables and pulses, the report noted.

Among the biggest contributors was the potato, whose prices crashed by 31%, largely due to dumping of stock by cold storage units. Tomatoes also became cheaper, with prices falling 8% year-on-year as higher supply entered the market.

Onions saw a dramatic 46% price drop, attributed to abundant rabi crop supply and a slowdown in exports to Bangladesh, a country that typically absorbs 40% of India’s onion exports.

Prices of pulses fell 16%, aided by increased imports of Bengal gram, yellow pea, and black gram — imports that are currently permitted until March 2026 to help ease consumer prices.

However, not all components moved in favour of cheaper meals. Vegetable oil prices rose 21% year-on-year, spurred by increased demand ahead of the festive season. Additionally, a 6% hike in LPG cylinder prices offset what could have been an even steeper decline in overall thali costs.

For non-vegetarian thalis, the decline was more modest due to only a 1% drop in broiler (chicken) prices, which account for around half the total cost. Still, falling vegetable and pulse prices helped ease the overall bill.

Looking ahead, Crisil Intelligence Director Pushan Sharma warned that prices, especially for onions and tomatoes, could start rising again.

“Excess rainfall in August and September has delayed kharif onion transplantation in states like Karnataka and Maharashtra, raising concerns about yield,” he said. If heavy rains continue into October, they could damage stored onions and standing crops, potentially pushing prices up further.

Sharma added that tomato prices may also edge up during the festive season, due to both higher demand and rainfall-induced yield losses in key growing regions.