Apple is cheaper than tomatoes in the retail market. Tomato retail prices on Saturday skyrocketed to Rs 85-100 per kg depending on the quality and the residential colonies in parts of India due to disruption in supply from growing areas due to floods, landslides and other reasons.
According to the ministry of consumer affairs data, tomato prices have touched Rs 100 a kg in Aizwal, Itanagar, Tura and Imphal while apple is being sold at Rs 50-60 in the markets. Most of the vegetables are being sold at Rs 60-70 across India while banana retail prices are ruling Rs 40-50 a dozen; Pomegrante at Rs 50 a kg and Papaya at Rs 30-40 a kg.
In Delhi, Mother Dairy’s Safal vegetable outlets were selling tomatoes at Rs 78/kg, e-tailer Grofers at Rs 74-75/kg and Big Basket at up to Rs 60 per kg while vendors in unorganised market are selling it at Rs 80-85 per kg.
At Azadpur mandi, Asia’s largest fruits and vegetable wholesale market, tomato prices were ruling at Rs 40-60 per kg, according to trade data. According to tomato association president Ashok Kaushik, the situation is expected to come to normal in the next 20-25 days.
“Normally, 70-80 trucks loaded with tomatoes would arrive in mandis regularly, which has decreased to 25-30 trucks since July end. The new crop of Maharashtra and Karnataka is yet to arrive in the market and then only the prices of tomatoes will cool down,” said a wholesale vendor from Ghazipur mandi in Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are the states with deficit tomato production. The country produces about 19.73 million tonnes of tomato annually, while the consumption is about 11.51 million tonnes, as per the ministry of consumer affairs data.
“During the lockdown, big retailers, restaurants, catering were all closed, which first brought down the prices of the produce and thereafter the supply. Now, the demand has been growing on a daily basis, but the supply remains the same,” said Pradeep Sonkar of Bandil wholesale market from West Bengal.
Tomato prices have been firm since June and were ruling in the range of Rs 50-60 per kg depending on the variety till the last few weeks.
The rates have again shot up since July end on reports of lower arrival of the new crop from key growing States. Not only tomatoes, all vegetables including are pinching the common man during Covid 19 when people are facing salary cut and loss of jobs across India. Potato retail prices have touched Rs 40 a kg in several States.