This year’s thali costs more because of the expensive onion, tomato, and potato

With its price rising by 7% in March, the modest vegetarian thali—a mainstay for millions of people across India—has become a villain in the lives of those who are struggling financially. Who are the guilty parties for this increase of food? It’s none other than the triumvirate of potatoes, onions, and tomatoes, whose prices have skyrocketed, making people cry and emptying their wallets.

Based on the “Roti Rice Rate” report published by Crisil Market Intelligence and Analysis, a division of the national rating agency Crisil, the price of a vegetable thali—a delicious combination of rice, dal, curd, salad, and veggies (onions, tomatoes, and potatoes)—went up to Rs 27.3 per plate in March from Rs 25.5 in the same period last year. The bright side is that it’s still less expensive than the Rs 27.4 that was billed in February 2024.

According to the survey, the price increase of the vegetable thali may be ascribed to a remarkable rise in the costs of onions (40%), tomatoes (36%), and potatoes (22%) in comparison to the previous year. Who is the guilty party in this? Reduced potato and onion arrivals combined with a low foundation of tomatoes from the previous fiscal year.

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But that’s not where the narrative ends. The research also notes that, as a result of fewer new products entering the market, rice prices have risen by 14% while those of pulses have grown by 22%.

Surprisingly, the cost of the non-vegetarian thali, which substitutes chicken for dal, has decreased by 7% to Rs 54.9 from Rs 59.2 during the same time last year. It is still more than the Rs 54 that was billed in February, however. A 16 per cent fall in broiler prices, which make up half of the total cost of the non-vegetarian thali, is the main cause of this decline.

Before you get too thrilled about the possibility of cheaper chicken, be aware that the start of the fasting month of Ramadan and increasing demand have caused broiler prices to rise by 5% from February to March.

The simple thali has come to represent the challenges that millions of Indians experience on a daily basis as the cost of life keeps rising.