Ramadan Price Shock: Kashmiris afflicted as essentials become out of pocket
Srinagar, Mar 03 (KB): As the holy month of Ramadan begins, Kashmiris preparing for a period of fasting and religious devotion are instead afflicted by an economic crisis—unfounded inflation of the price of essential commodities.
From mutton and chicken to fruits, vegetables, and milk, the skyrocketing prices have loaded ordinary families with an unprecedented amount of money. Though the government claims to act to bring the market under control, the situation on the ground indicates otherwise.
As Kashmiris prepare for Ramadan, Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag, and other district markets are witnessing record hikes in the prices of vital edibles.
Mutton, the staple meat in Kashmiri cuisine, has become a luxury for the masses with prices crossing ₹750-800 per kilogram, leaving way behind the government fixed price of ₹700/kg. Chicken, the other key source of protein, is now being retailed at ₹170-180/kg, compared to the previous times when it was sold for ₹140/kg.
Meanwhile, the prices of vegetables have doubled, even trebled in certain regions. Tomatoes that were available for ₹40 per kg just weeks ago are now commanding ₹80-100 per kg. Potatoes, onions, and other such staple vegetables have become out of reach for the majority.
I shopped for vegetables to be consumed during iftar, and I was stunned,” said Shazia Jan, a Baramulla resident. “Tomatoes were ₹90 a kilogram, onions ₹80, and even spinach, what we buy in bulk, was on the higher side. How can we manage to have a month’s meals?”
Despite the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) Department issuing strict price control orders, traders continue to defy government directives. Officials have conducted market raids and fined violators, yet prices remain unregulated and inconsistent.
A senior FCSCA official, speaking anonymously, admitted that enforcement remains a major challenge. “We conduct inspections, fine them, and issue warnings, but the source of the issue lies in the wholesale market and supply chain. Unless we attack price manipulation in the wholesale segment, retailers will continue to sell at higher prices”.
Consumer rights campaigners argue that price control campaigns are symbolic rather than substantive in their approach and do not address the actual crisis.
“The government releases a list of prices every year during the pre-Ramadan season, but no one pays attention,” said Mohammad Yasin, a resident of Anantnag. “The government knows the traders are going against the rates, but they penalize the small shopkeepers while the big ones go scot-free.”
While customers blame traders for overcharging, shopkeepers claim that they are also victims of an uncertain market.
“We are forced to sell mutton at ₹700/kg because that’s what we purchase from wholesalers,” said Bashir Ahmad, a Srinagar Lal Chowk butcher. “The government rate is unrealistic. If we follow it, we will incur losses.”
Similarly, complaint is made by vegetable and poultry vendors, referring to increased transport expense, supply shortage, and middleman exploitation as the cause of inflation.
“I buy chicken from a trader, and they’ve increased the price due to increased feed prices,” said Ghulam Nabi, a poultry vendor in Pulwama. “It’s not fair to expect us to sell cheaper when we are paying more at the source.”
For the majority of Kashmiris, Ramadan is a time of family gatherings and communal iftars, but with the recent price increase, even the most basic of commodities are now out of reach.
“I earn ₹12,000 per month, and I have a family of six,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a carpenter from Sopore. “How am I going to buy mutton at ₹700/kg? Even vegetables are expensive. We are being forced to cut down on food, even in this holy month.”
The effect is worse for the daily wage workers, who are barely able to buy even the most basic things. They have had to cut down on the diversity of food on their plates, sticking to low-cost options such as lentils and rice.
“I used to buy fruits for iftar every day, but now I can only manage twice a week,” said Parveena Akhtar, a widow from Pulwama. “Even dates, which are essential for breaking fast, have become costly.”
The majority of residents believe that one of the primary reasons behind these unregulated price hikes is hoarding among traders. Over the last several years, the authorities have come across instances of massive hoarding, where commodities are stockpiled by wholesalers to artificially hike prices before Ramadan.
We suspect the same is happening again,” an official said. “A few businessmen deliberately create the shortage, knowing demand will soar hugely in Ramadan. By the time they are acted against, the harm is done.”
Officials warned to impose penalties on hoarding traders, but poor enforcement and a lack of political will make others believe that such threats will be nothing but bluff.
“If the government can regulate fuel prices daily, why not food prices in Ramadan?” wondered Farooq Ahmed, an economist based in Srinagar. “The government needs to intervene at the wholesale level, offer transparent pricing, and eliminate middlemen who bleed both traders and consumers.”
For Kashmiris, Ramadan is a time of religion, self-reflection, and charity. But this year, the exorbitant prices have made it a time of economic suffering. While charities and community kitchens are going out of their way to provide free iftar meals, the core issue remains—the reason why prices skyrocket every Ramadan, and why no one is being held accountable?
Until the authorities go beyond symbolic gestures and implement long-term remedies, Kashmiri families will keep experiencing the same price increases every year, rendering Ramadan not only a test of faith but a test of survival.— (KB)
