Despite the rising potato prices, the cost of the ‘vada paav’ has remained static in the last two to three months with the exception of a few vendors who have raised prices by a rupee or two. Most other vendors have maintained status quo, chiefly because a key ingredient — channa dal — remains the only dal not to have seen a massive rise in prices over the last few months. The prices of all the other dals — tur, urad, moong and masur — have shot up by 50 to 100 per cent.

The sowing of channa dal, which is a rabi crop, is underway at several parts of the state. In 2007-’08, which was an excellent year for all crops, channa production was 11.16 lakh tonnes, while it was 8.24 lakh tonnes last year. “Maharashtra is the primary producer of channa dal. It also comes from Madhya Pradesh. This time, the crop has been good; the stocks with the traders are also good. Unlike other dals, the price of this one is expected to remain stable throughout the year,” said Pune Merchant Chamber director Nitin Nahar.

Vendors say they already had to raise prices by Rs 3 in the past 15 months, and any more price hike might drive away the customers. “Some vendors have increased the price of the vada paav by a rupee recently as the price of the potato has hit unprecedented highs, but we are trying to resist. It is still an inexpensive meal for many of our customers,” said one of them, who is selling vada paavs at Rs 5 a piece. A poor potato crop this year has led to potato costing Rs 16 per kg in the wholesale market, and at least Rs 25 per kg in retail.

... contd.