Ready for the rush: Nurul Izwani (left) filling an order at the Kepala Batas market. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
KEPALA BATAS: The price of most spices and curry powder for the Deepavali celebration has remained the same, with sufficient supply too.
However, the price of turmeric and briyani powder has increased in the past few months.
Spice trader Nurul Izwani Md Razak, 37, said the price of cumin has also shown a significant increase to about RM50 per kg compared to six months ago, when it only cost RM20 per kg.
She explained that this could be due to a shortage of supply from India and the Middle East.
Nurul Izwani said briyani powder, which was among the most sought-after items during the festive period, has also increased in price. This year, the festival here falls on this coming Sunday.
“It has gone up from RM60 to RM70 per kg.
“But even though the price has increased, people still buy it because they have to use it in their cooking during the festival,” she said.
She said other than cumin, the supply of spices like black pepper, basil seeds, poppy seed (kas kas), and cinnamon is still sufficient for the coming festival.
Coconut milk seller Kuthubuddeen Sultan, 66, said he is expecting business to pick up two or three days before Deepavali.
“I am getting ready to prepare a large amount of santan (coconut milk) for this Deepavali, as the demand will be there,” he said.
Frozen meat trader Mohamad Isa Md Noordin, 22, said he is preparing more mutton and lamb for the upcoming Deepavali.
“Our main product is beef, but due to requests and demand for Deepavali, we are preparing more,” he said.
He said during Deepavali and other festivities, people tend to buy frozen meat as it is cheaper than local fresh meat.
He said most people will go for mutton, which is priced between RM15 and RM35 per kg, while for lamb, it is between RM40 and RM50 per kg.
