Tomatoes selling at over Rs 100, go out of commoners’ reach across India

NEW DELHI: Tomatoes are now red-hot and burning a hole in the common people’s pockets as the prices have skyrocketed and are being sold at over Rs 100 per kg in several key cities.

Many attribute the sharp rise in the vegetable to heat waves in key tomato-growing areas and heavy rain as well as disruption in supply chains. Tomatoes, which have a relatively short shelf life, could also have put pressure on their prices.

In Chennai, tomatoes are currently selling at Rs 100-130 per kg. Faced with price prices, the Tamil Nadu government has started the sale of tomatoes at a subsidised rate of Rs 60 per kg at ration shops in the state capital Chennai to manage the price rise.

“From today, tomato is being sold in ration shops at Rs 60 per kg. It is available for Rs 100-130 per kg in the market. We are happy that the government has started the sale at half the price. We thank our state government for this good initiative”, said Baby, a customer who was out shopping at Pondy Bazaar in T Nagar, Chennai.

Tomato prices in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, were as high as Rs 150 per kg. “The price of vegetables has increased a lot. Tomatoes are being sold at Rs 150 per kg. Customers are facing a lot of problems due to the price hike. I request the government to intervene and regularise the vegetable prices”, a Moradabad-based customer said.

The rise in tomato prices is reported across the country, and not just limited to a particular region or geography. In the national capital Delhi, they are being sold at around Rs 130 per kg.

“It is very difficult for the common man, we have stopped eating tomatoes. Tomatoes are being sold at Rs 129 per kg. The government should think about it”, said a customer in Delhi.

In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, tomatoes were being sold at Rs 100 per kg on Wednesday. Other vegetables, including capsicum, pumpkin, cauliflower, and brinjal are also selling at higher prices.

“The prices are very high. The prices of cauliflower and pumpkins have also increased now. The prices of tomatoes have gone up drastically. The government should look at the poor people and do something for them to control vegetable prices. It is becoming tough for us to buy vegetables”, said Babli Salotra, a Shimla local.

According to Babu Ram, a local vegetable seller in Shimla, the decline in supply could possibly be the reason for the uptick in prices. “Tomato supply is very less, and as a result, wholesale prices are going up to Rs 90 per kg. Subsequently, we are selling at Rs 100 a kg in the retail market”, said Babu Ram.

“During the past 15 days, the vegetable prices have gone very high. Ginger was selling at Rs100 per kg a month ago and today it is Rs 300 per kg. The prices of cauliflower have increased manifold in 15 days. It is becoming tough because our kitchen cost is very high. We used to get vegetables for Rs 100 for survival and now we are not able to get it even for Rs 200. It has become very different for the poor”, said Raj Kumar, another local resident.

According to the database maintained by the Price Monitoring Division under the Department of Consumer Affairs, the price per kg tomato, on average, rose by Rs 60-100 of what they were in retail markets in early June. Data showed prices of tomatoes in Delhi rose from Rs 20 per kg in early June to Rs 110.

Similarly, in Chennai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, three key consuming regions, the prices rose to Rs 117, Rs 100 and Rs 148, respectively. The rise in prices in Mumbai, however, was lower at currently Rs 58.

Data showed the rates of the staple tomato were in tune with the rise in their prices in wholesale markets, which jumped substantially on average in June. (ANI)