The delayed monsoon and the possibility of weak rainfall in parts of the country is leading to a consistent increase in the prices of vegetables and pulses. The prices of tomatoes — which are in severe short supply — is expected to cross the Rs 100/kg mark soon, according to the news daily – The Hindu. Last week, the price of tomatoes shot up to over Rs 80 level.
According to traders, tomato prices in May were Rs 3-5 a kg in the wholesale market and Rs 10-20 a kg in the retail market. But in June it suddenly increased and is now above Rs 100. Tomato prices have tripled in the last week. Due to less supply of tomatoes from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, tomatoes are coming from Bangalore. The crops have been damaged by the recent rains. Due to this, traders are erecting plants on the basis of wires. Traders of Delhi are talking to the farmers of Maharashtra to get tomatoes.
Also Read: IMD issues normal monsoon forecast, but food inflation needs to be watched
A 15-kg crate of tomatoes was sold for Rs 1,100 in Kolar wholesale APMC market on Sunday and this is expected to further drive up the price in the retail market in the city soon, reported the daily.
“The sowing of tomatoes this year is lower than the previous years, for various reasons. Many farmers in Kolar shifted to beans this year, as the price of beans skyrocketed last year. However, due to deficient monsoons crops have dried up and wilted. The tomato crop in the district may be only 30 percent of the usual,” reported the publication citing Anji Reddy, a tomato farmer from Kolar.
"Tomato is being sold at a price of Rs 80 Kg. The rate has suddenly shot up in the past two-three days. This sudden increase in price is due to heavy rainfall. Rain has destroyed tomatoes," says Mohammad Raju, a resident of Delhi told ANI.
The high prices can be attributed to high temperature, low production and delayed rainfall in most parts of the country.
Except for onions and potatoes, most other vegetables are being sold at a higher price than usual. Prices of a kg of beans are in the range of Rs 120-140, some varieties of carrots are being sold at Rs 100, capsicum per Kg has crossed the Rs 80 mark. Meanwhile, the cost of eggs has also shot up and an egg is being sold in the range of Rs 7-8, up from Rs 5-6.
In fact, the capital of Madhya Pradesh is already facing a vegetable price surge. Last week, Free Press Journal reported that tomatoes, which cost Rs 10 per kilogram till the previous week in Bhopal, cost Rs 100/kg now.
Last year, retail prices of tomatoes shot above Rs 100/Kg in several cities across the country, including Mumbai and Kolkata.
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