Coriander prices are on the rise again in the wake of erratic weather conditions that have wreaked havoc on coriander crops. The months of June and July witnessed prolonged rains, which resulted in significant damage to 30 to 40 percent of the coriander production. This initially led to a spike in coriander prices across both wholesale and retail markets.

In the wholesale market, a pair of coriander was fetching prices ranging from Rs. 20 to Rs. 30, while in the retail market, consumers were paying between Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 for the same quantity. Fortunately, favourable weather conditions in August led to a resurgence in coriander crops, briefly stabilizing prices as a healthy supply entered the market.

However, the recent return of dry weather has once again taken a toll on coriander crops, causing a reduction in supply. Consequently, coriander prices are climbing steadily. In the current scenario, wholesale prices have surged to Rs. 20 to Rs. 30 per bunch, while retail prices have followed suit, ranging from Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 per bunch.

Coriander primarily originates from Nashik, Pune, Sangli, and Satara, with approximately 50 to 60 truckloads of coriander entering the APMC wholesale market on a daily basis. However, this supply has now dwindled to 40 to 50 truckloads, leading to a situation where demand is outstripping supply in Mumbai and its surrounding areas.

The price fluctuations have been dramatic over the past few months. In July, a bunch of coriander, which typically costs between Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 in the wholesale market, soared to Rs. 20 to Rs. 30, and the retail market reflected these increases, with prices reaching Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 per bunch.

Yet, from the second week of August, there was a brief respite as prices began to decrease. During this period, two bundles of coriander were available at Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 in the wholesale market, and the retail market adjusted accordingly with prices ranging from Rs. 10 to Rs. 15 per pair.

Coriander trader Mahesh Gupta stated, with the festive season approaching, the demand for coriander is likely to remain high. However, given the reduced inflow due to unfavourable weather conditions, coriander prices are expected to remain high for the next one to one and a half month, posing a challenge for consumers and traders alike.