The severe supply crunch affecting drumstick prices has reached a critical point in Bengaluru, with the iconic K.R. Market—the city's primary wholesale hub—witnessing an almost complete disappearance of the vegetable. The extraordinarily high wholesale cost is deterring most vendors from stocking drumsticks, fearing heavy losses.
Vendors Refuse to Stock: The Investment Risk
The central issue is the prohibitively high cost of procurement, which vendors are hesitant to risk their capital on:
- High Wholesale Price: According to a drumstick seller who dared to invest, a 40 kg sack of drumsticks now costs approximately ₹18,000. This translates to a wholesale rate of ₹450 to ₹500 per kilogram.
- Retail Price Dilemma: To cover costs and make a minimal profit, vendors must charge customers between ₹550 and ₹600 per kilogram.
- Fear of No Buyers: Most vendors are unwilling to take this massive financial risk, knowing that most customers are unwilling to pay such astronomical prices. Consequently, drumsticks are available only at one or two shops in the entire market.
The Seller’s Plight: High Capital, Zero Demand
A vendor who invested capital spoke about the dire situation:
"I took the courage and invested, even taking loans to buy the stock. The wholesale price is between ₹450-₹500 per kg. I have to sell it for ₹550 to ₹600. But when people hear the price, no one is buying."
He noted that while he managed to make ₹3,000 in sales the previous day, the current demand is almost nil, indicating that the price has driven away regular customers.
The Root Cause: Supply Chain Failure
The crisis is fundamentally a supply-side shock, linked primarily to adverse weather:
- Lack of Supply: The vendor confirmed that there is virtually no supply of the vegetable currently.
- Dependence on Tamil Nadu: Historically, the majority of the supply comes from Tamil Nadu. However, growers there report that recent heavy rains have severely damaged the crop, leading to a massive shortage in the supply chain to Bengaluru.
Only a few customers, driven by a strong desire to consume the vegetable regardless of the price, are making isolated purchases, highlighting the severe shortage faced by the city's markets.
