Much to the chagrin of consumers, tomato prices have seen a spurt in major parts of the country. In Delhi, tomato is being sold around Rs 60-70 per kg in the retail market, while the wholesale rate is Rs 30-35 per kg. In Chennai, the retail market price of tomato is Rs 80 per kg, and in Chandigarh it is around Rs 50-60 per kg. In Patna, the price hovers around Rs 55 per kg, whereas it is being sold at Rs 90 per kg in Bengaluru. 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.
Tomato traders predict prices will not come down for at least five to six weeks as fresh stock was expected to arrive only by September-October. Interestingly, two weeks ago, farmers of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh threw tonnes of vegetables and tomatoes on highways due to the sudden dip in wholesale prices.
Tomato is being sold at Rs 60 per kg at Safal outlets run by Mother Dairy in the national Capital and Rs 45-48 on online platforms of Grofers and Nature’s Basket. At Amazon.com, tomato is being sold at Rs 55 per kg.
Meanwhile, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture said that rise in tomato prices was a seasonal phenomena and the Government was keeping a close watch on the price.
“More than 70 per cent of the tomato crop has been damaged due to excess rain followed by heat in Haryana, one of the key suppliers of the produce to Delhi,” said Ashok Kaushik, president of the Tomato Merchants Association in Azadpur.
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,” he said.
“As far as Delhi is concerned, 100 trucks of tomatoes arrive daily which caters to Delhi and its surrounding areas. For the last one week, only 60-70 trucks have been coming to mandis here,” said Kaushik.
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. The country’s tomato production is estimated to be higher by 15 per cent at 187 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 crop year (July- June).