Tomato prices have shot up to Rs 90-100 per kg in major parts of the country including the national Capital. And there is no relief in sight at least till September-October.
In Delhi, prices of tomato touched Rs 90 per kg while in some posh colonies, the rate has even crossed the Rs 100-mark. The wholesale price of tomatoes across the country ranged between Rs 60 and Rs 80 per kg depending on the quality.
In Chennai, the retail market price of tomato has increased from Rs 80 to Rs 110 per kg. In Chandigarh, tomatoes are being sold at Rs 90-100 per kg while in Patna, tomatoes are being sold at Rs 80 per kg. In Bengaluru's Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee, it is being sold at a wholesale price of Rs 70-80 per kg.
In Delhi's New Friends Colony, tomatoes were being sold at Rs 100-Rs 110 per kg on Monday; in Model Town at Rs 100 per kg; in trans Yamuna area, between Rs 90 and Rs 100 per kg and in Malviya Nagar, at Rs 90 per kg. In Gurgaon, tomato prices are Rs 80-90 per kg.
Tomato traders predict prices will not come down for at least the next five to six weeks as fresh stock was expected to arrive only by September-October. Wholesale traders in Delhi attributed the rising prices to "tight" supply as a result of showers damaging tomato crops in Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and other producing States. Normally, prices of tomato firm up in July-September every year.
Interestingly, the country's tomato production, before the crop damage, is estimated to be higher by 15 per cent at 187 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 crop year (July- June).
According to the president of the Tomato Merchants Association in Azadpur, Ashok Kaushik, tomato crop has been damaged due to excess rain followed by heat in Haryana, one of the key suppliers of the produce to Delhi.
"Tomato prices have increased and it is a normal occurrence during the monsoon months, from July to September-October. This is because the stock spoils easily during the rain. Right now, we are getting our supply only from Himachal Pradesh," said Rajendra Sharma, president of Azadpur Mandi, adding that the supply has been affected due to monsoon rain in Himachal Pradesh.
Sharma further said that the shelf life of tomatoes is not more than four days. "Not all retailers have an access to cold storage. So, they tend to recover the losses by selling at a higher price," he said. In Delhi and NCR area, over 100 trucks arrive daily but these days only 50 trucks are arriving daily. The supply is 50 percent less these days.
Meanwhile, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture said that the rise in tomato prices was a seasonal phenomenon and blamed the monsoon for increasing prices. Officials said the Centre was keeping a close watch on the prices.
Tomato crop in some parts of South India has also been damaged due to rain, leading to price increase. "Prices quoted were so high that it was unviable to bring tomato from the South. In fact, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are supplying tomatoes to southern States at present," traders said.
Other tomato-producing States such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are also supplying less than half of their total supplies.
As per the second advance data of Ministry of Agriculture, tomato ranks third in priority after potato and onion in India. India ranks second in the area as well as in production of tomato.