Riyaz Ahmed’s mill on the outskirts of Mysuru, part of a fertile agricultural belt in southern India, is stacked with gunny bags full of an unexpectedly precious commodity: rice.
Prices for rice, tomatoes and other staples have surged in recent weeks as the erratic arrival of India’s annual monsoon has upended agricultural production. While heavy rains in some areas washed out crops, their delayed arrival here and elsewhere is stoking fears of poor harvests and even higher prices.
“The monsoon is late . . . and now water is short”, said Ahmed, 69, who has been milling rice for nearly 30 years. “Everyone from the lowest to the highest earners is suffering, including me.”
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