In Navi Mumbai, jowar is now considered an essential part of a balanced diet, leading to a growing demand for it. Initially, sorghum prices soared to Rs.80-90 per kg, but with the introduction of new jowar production in APMC, prices have decreased to Rs.50-60 per kg in the wholesale market.
On Friday, 1645 quintals of sorghum entered the market, with good quality sorghum selling at the lower price range. Despite a 30 to 40 percent production loss due to intermittent rains, customers are finding relief in the availability of jowar. A 13 percent price increase in sorghum was noted in the market due to reduced supply, reaching Rs.80 per kg. Sorghum is typically sourced from Solapur, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, with the current market mainly supplied from Solapur.
New sorghum harvest is expected in February, bringing fresh supplies to APMC. Last year, unseasonal rains impacted sorghum production, causing prices to rise sharply. However, the arrival of new sorghum has stabilized prices in the market.