Tomato prices skyrocket as heavy rains cause shortage in supply

Tomato_Vegetable_vegetable

Tomato prices have shot up to an unexpected level of about Rs 100 per kg at the vegetable markets in major cities owing to a decrease in supply of produce.

While Delhi NCR markets were selling tomatoes at Rs 96-110 per kg, in Mumbai they were more or less priced at the maximum of Rs 110 per kg on Tuesday, as per media reports.

Incessant rain and pest attacks have caused cutbacks in supplies from many major tomato-producing states. The shortage of supply has in turn increased the price of this vegetable which is a staple of Indians.

Tomato prices first sky-rocketed in June when heavy rains damaged crops in Haryana and other producing states. At that time tomatoes were being sold at maximum of Rs 60-70 per kg, PTI reported.

Among other places, recent heavy rains in Nashik have reportedly caused a delay in transporting tomatoes. Extra pressure is added as it is an easily perishable good. Nashik is one of the key suppliers of tomatoes in the North Indian region.

Traders and officials told Businessline that the prices are likely to remain at this high level till the end of August. Some respite is expected once supplies from key tomato-producing regions become regular.

The retail price of tomato have jumped from Rs 50 to 60 per kg to Rs 90-100 per kg in vegetable markets in just past two weeks.

According to the price monitoring data from Department of Consumer Affairs, the modal price of tomatoes was Rs 80 per kg on Monday and the maximum price was Rs 95.