New Delhi, June 27 : Tomato prices have experienced a significant spike in markets nationwide, surging from Rs 10-20 per kg to a staggering Rs 80-100 per kg. The sharp increase in prices can be attributed to a dip in supply caused by heatwaves in tomato-growing regions and heavy rainfall.
Ajay Kedia, a Mumbai-based commodity market expert and head of Kedia Advisory, explained that several factors contributed to fewer tomatoes being sown this year. Farmers shifted their focus to growing beans due to last year’s surge in bean prices. However, a lack of monsoon rains has resulted in crop withering and drying out. The limited availability of vegetables, particularly tomatoes, is a direct consequence of crop damage from excessive rainfall and extreme heat.
Mohammad Raju, a Delhi resident, expressed his surprise at the sudden surge in tomato prices, stating that tomatoes are now being sold at Rs 80 per kg. He attributed this price increase to heavy rainfall, which has caused significant damage to the tomato crops.
The soaring prices have also affected the southern state of Karnataka and its capital city Bengaluru, where incessant rains have damaged crops and disrupted transportation. In Bengaluru’s markets, tomato prices reached Rs 100 per kg, with traders attributing the hike to crop damage caused by heavy rainfall.
The price hike is not limited to Bengaluru, as tomatoes that were sold for Rs 40-50 per kg in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, just a week ago, are now being sold for Rs 100 per kg. Similar price increases have been observed in Delhi, where tomatoes are being sold at Rs 80 per kg.
Residents are expressing their concerns about the rising prices, with Suraj Gaur, a Bengaluru resident, sharing his frustration over the escalating cost of tomatoes. He noted that the price has surged from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 100 per kg, leaving consumers feeling helpless and compelled to make purchases at inflated prices.
The shortage of tomatoes in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur has led to wholesale prices ranging from Rs 80-90 per kg, while retail shops are selling tomatoes for Rs 100 per kg. Vegetable vendors in Kanpur have attributed the price rise to heavy rainfall, which has severely impacted tomato supplies from Bengaluru. They anticipate further price increases within the next 10 days, as tomato prices typically surge during this period.
The tomato supply disruption caused by rain has affected tomato-growing districts in Karnataka, including Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, Chitradurga, and Bengaluru Rural.
In response to the escalating prices, a Kanpur customer stated that he would refrain from buying tomatoes if prices continue to rise. Gopal, a concerned resident, highlighted the worries of households like his, expressing the difficulty of purchasing vegetables with such inflated prices.
Traders in Kanpur foresee prices reaching up to Rs 150 per kg in the coming days. They note that tomato rates have doubled recently, with a shortage in local supply and heavy reliance on Bengaluru for the next two months.
Tomato sellers in Kanpur confirm the impact of rain on prices, stating that they are now selling tomatoes at Rs 100 per kg.
Data from the Price Monitoring Division, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, reveals that the average retail price per kilo of tomatoes has risen from Rs 25 to Rs 41. Maximum tomato prices in retail markets range from Rs 80-113 per kg.
The prices of other staple vegetables have also increased in wholesale markets, with an average jump of 60-70 percent in June, in line with the overall price surge.
