Price shoots up.

Plantain leaves price shoots up by 60% this Onam.

Average export of  plantain leaves during Onam      50 tons

Price of full leaf for exports                                       Rs.4/- to Rs.12/-

Domestic market for full leaf                                     Rs.3/- - Rs.4/- to Rs.6/- - Rs.8/-

One full leaf can be used as plates for 4 to 5 people.

Most of the leaves are procured from Tamil Nadu. Due to demand, farmers have increased the prices of the leaves from Rs.4/- to Rs.12/- per leaf.

My take

The rise is because of Onam. The Malayalees abroad, insist that they partake Onam lunch only on plantain leaves. Prices are not a problem. 

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 10. The house was opened up by 6.

In between, had breakfast before bath, along  with Lekha, who'd then gone to Kottarakkara to do important work and the first stop was the Ganapati kshetram. Kunjumon was her sa'arthi.

The evening chores.