There is no respite from skyrocketing prices of tomatoes in the retail market of the national Capital despite the Delhi Government issuing warning to hoarders and traders a few days ago. The rise in prices is being attributed to massive crop failure in tomatoes producing States,
including Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Bengaluru, Chintamani and Kolhar in South India due to heavy rain, and supply shortfall.
With the Azadpur Mandi receiving about only 20 to 25 per cent of stock as compared to previous year, the prices have gone up with tomatoes being sold between Rs 80 and 100 per kg in retail markets.
Ashok Kaushik, president of the tomato association, said the massive crop failure in the tomato producing States
due to heavy rain has led to the huge shortage. “We have been receiving only one to two trucks loaded with tomatoes per day while in previous season the figure was 40 to 50 trucks,” he added.
Kaushik said, “The city will continue experiencing a massive shortage as new crops have been devastated due to heavy rain in several areas. I don’t think the situation will be improving in the next few months.”
Traders also said supply of tomatoes from Bangalore is expensive as compared to that from other States due to transportation cost. “Traders in Bangalore supply to Delhi only after being assured of getting high prices,” they said. Rajender Sharma, a former chairman of Agricultural Produces Market Committee (APMC), said, “We have to wait and watch. It all depends on further supply.”
Suresh Kumar of Dayal Sons said tomatoes rotted in the rainy season and the supply from Himachal Pradesh has gone down alarmingly.
When asked the reason behind the failure of new production of tomatoes, supply company owners blamed it to heavy rain. “Excessive rain this time has spoiled majority of the crops and hence price rise,” said Dinesh Bhatt, owner of Gopal Das lingraj Companies, who has been supplying tomatoes to the Delhi wholesale markets for the last 10 years.
Shiv Kumar Shukla, owner of KTC companies, said, “The supply has reduced even from Jaipur this year.
We are hardly getting product from there.”
The retail prices of tomatoes were Rs 20 to 40 per kg till September but after traders started getting decreased supply, the prices went up to Rs 60 and Rs 70 per kg and finally to Rs 80 to 100 per kg by the end of the October.
Sunil Kothari, a worker at a SAFAl store at Pitampura, told The Pioneer that the tomato price is Rs 68 per kg.
It may be noted that the Delhi Government on Saturday had asked the Food & Civil Supplies Commissioner to act against the hoarding of tomatoes. A statement released by the Government said, “Steady and continuous rise in price of tomatoes without any plausible reason indicates the possibility of hoarding of these commodities.” According to Delhi Government’s official data, retail tomato prices is being sold at Rs 80 in Delhi.