After a brief relief in July, Indians are again witnessing a surge in tomato prices. Tomato prices have shot up almost 50% from the second week of August as excessive rains have damaged the crop in Shimla, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Prices hovering around ₹40 per kg in the retail market have suddenly jumped to ₹60 per kg.
"The tomato supply to Azadpur mandi has dwindled as rains have damaged the crop. At the wholesale level, prices have appreciated from R20 per kg to R28 per kg. Prices will remain firm for some time until the new crop comes: said Ashok Kaushik, president of Tomato Traders Association, Asia's largest Mandi in Azadpur, said in FY22, India had produced 20 million metric tons of tomato.
Shriram Gadhave, president of Vegetable Growers Association of India: "It is difficult to say when tomato prices would come down. The farmers are planting new seeds. But if it rains, then it will again impact prices. Moreover, the yield of tomato is getting impacted due to heavy downpour in the tomato growing regions of the country."
Gadhave said, though the prices in the retail market have not come down yet, farmers are not getting remunerative prices. The incessant rains and moisture content have also led to damage to their yield.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com