By Leenah Wahab  

Wholesale food Prices have halved since September 2022, according to a report published by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute Data Management Division.   

The report shows a reduction in price of numerous subsidiary food crops, including a 54% decrease in the price of imported chillies from 1515 to 700 Rupees as well as a 30% decrease in the price of imported potatoes from 232 t0 164 Rupees since 2022. Pulses such as green gram have seen a 35% decrease in price from 1050 to a mere average of 690 Rupees. The report further shows a fall in the price of eggs, both brown and white from 47-49 to 32-35 rupees in the Pettah market since September 2022.  

On the other hand, wholesale prices of rice have increased, with the price of imported rice having increased to 184.6 to 277.5 Rupees since September 2022. However, prices of locally sourced rice hasn’t changed significantly, fluctuating between 220-230 Rupees.  

Moreover the report shows a decrease in price for almost all up country and low country vegetables since 2022. Prices of vegetables sourced from the Peliyagoda market such as beans have seen a 50% drop in price range from 280-300 to 100-200 Rupees, as well as carrot from 300-320 to 120-130 Rupees. Prices of low country vegetables such as capsicum have declined by 42% from a maximum threshold of 600 rupees to 350.