Homemade Veg Thali Was Costlier, Non-Veg Cheaper This April Compared To 2023: CRISIL Report

At the same time, a non-vegetarian thali became cheaper in the month to Rs 56.3, marking a drop of 4 per cent from the cost of Rs 58.9 in April 2023, as broilers saw an easing in prices

Rice and pulses clocked a 14 per cent and 20 per cent jump in prices respectively, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis ( Image Source :Getty )

Roti Rice Rate Report: Home-made vegetarian thali became much more expensive in April due to a surge in commodity prices, a study by ratings agency CRISIL revealed on Wednesday. The study, titled ‘Roti Rice Rate’, highlighted that home-cooked vegetarian thali saw a 8 per cent jump in its cost to Rs 27.4 in April 2024, against Rs 25.4 in the month under review a year earlier.

This increase in cost was attributed to a costlier onion, tomato, and potato commodities, reported Business Standard.

At the same time, a non-vegetarian thali became cheaper in the month as the cost came down to Rs 56.3, marking a drop of 4 per cent from the cost of Rs 58.9 in April 2023, as broilers saw an easing in prices, the study found.

Notably, a vegetarian thali includes roti, onion, potato, rice, tomato, daal, curd, and salad, while a non-vegetarian one substitutes daal with chicken, with the rest of the ingredients as same. The average price of a homemade thali is evaluated on the basis of input prices in different regions of India, such as the North, South, East, and West. 

What Led To The Veg Thali Price Hike    

CRISIL noted in its report, “Lower onion arrivals due to a significant drop in rabi acreage and damage to potato crop in West Bengal led to the price increase.”

While rice and pulses clocked a 14 per cent and 20 per cent jump in prices respectively, on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the prices of cumin, chilli, and vegetable oil slipped 40 per cent, 31 per cent, and 10 per cent respectively. This helped minimise the increase in the cost of the vegetarian thali.

For the non-vegetarian thali, a broiler became cheaper by 12 per cent YoY and this helped bring down the cost of the overall meal. Notably, the broiler contributes to half (50 per cent) of the total cost of the thali.

Elaborating on the study’s findings, Pushan Sharma, Director of Research, CRISIL, noted, “Since November 2023, the prices of vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis have been diverging. The vegetarian thali has become costlier year-on-year, while the non-vegetarian thali is cheaper. This is mainly because of declining broiler prices, while the prices of vegetables such as onions, potatoes and tomatoes have risen on a low base.”

Sharma added that vegetable prices are expected to remain on the higher end in the near future.