Worse days ahead
The tomato has long been a near-obligatory garnishing for just about any dish, yet it’s becoming the country’s apple of discord. A longer-than-usual rainy season and superheated demand have combined to send prices for the beloved food soaring, and consumers are seeing red. Delhi seems to be especially hit hard by the perennial dry weather conditions as tomato prices are again likely to shoot up.
Meanwhile, traders claimed that the rate will further rise in the wholesale and retail markets as well due to the drop in supply from various States. The traders of various mandis in the Capital have predicted worse days ahead as the city is only receiving supply from Himachal Pradesh region and the new crop from Karnataka is expected to reach the market in three months. Prices in the wholesale market are varying between Rs 18 and Rs 22 per kg, however, in retail they have gone up to Rs 70 per kg. In South Delhi, tomatoes are being sold at Rs 80 per kg and only Safal outlets are selling it at Rs 50 to Rs 55 per kg.
Wholesale traders of Azadpur, Keshavpur and Gazipur mandis claimed that the supply is severely affected with the depleting stock of farmers in Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra. Only the produce from Solan district of Himachal is reaching the Capital, which is not enough. Meanwhile, traders said supply of tomatoes has reduced to 75 per cent, which has forced them to purchase and sell at higher prices.