Tomato Price: Once again, troubling news is coming from the vegetable market! The tomato that you were buying at a retail price of ₹ 20 per kilogram till a few weeks ago, is now suddenly spitting fire! Tomato is being sold for up to ₹ 50 per kilogram in Delhi-NCR and many cities of North India, and it is all set to spoil your kitchen budget. Common consumers are deeply concerned due to this unexpected price hike because tomato is an integral part of Indian cuisine.
The price of tomato has reached ₹ 40 per kilogram even in the wholesale market, and there is a possibility of further increase in its prices in the coming time. Ashok Kaushik, a tomato trader from Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi, told Jagran Business that tomato prices have increased significantly in the last week. The wholesale price of tomatoes has reached ₹ 30 per kg, and the price of the new consignment of tomatoes coming from Bengaluru is expected to be around ₹ 40. This shows that there have been serious disruptions in the supply chain.
Why did tomato prices rise
Ashok Kaushik said that there are several reasons for this jump in tomato prices:
Significant Shortage in Supply
Till last month, a large quantity of tomatoes was coming from Rajasthan and Haryana. But, farmers were not getting a fair price for their produce, due to which they stopped taking out tomatoes. Now the supply of tomatoes is coming mainly from Himachal Pradesh, Karnal in Haryana, and some districts of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, some supply is also coming from Karnataka, but it is not enough to meet the increasing demand.
Impact of Intense Heat
Due to the intense heat in the month of June, the tomato crop is getting spoiled rapidly. Due to high temperatures, tomatoes start rotting or drying up even before ripening, which reduces the availability of fresh and good-quality tomatoes to the markets. This is also affecting the supply of tomatoes and is becoming a major reason for the increase in prices.
Transportation and Logistics Challenges
Transportation costs have increased due to supplies coming from remote areas. In hot weather, it is challenging to transport a delicate product like tomato over long distances, which also increases losses.
When will tomato prices come down
There is no hope of a reduction in tomato prices at the moment. Tomato is one of those vegetables that spoil very quickly.
The heat is still on, due to which the crops are getting spoiled. The rainy season will start soon, and rain also damages the tomato crop. Heavy rains cause crops to rot or increase the risk of pests.
Therefore, there is no hope of relief in tomato prices for the next one or two months. Consumers have to be prepared to face high prices for this period.
Impact of rising tomato prices on your kitchen
The monthly budget of the houses will be badly affected due to the rising tomato prices. Tomato is used everywhere in the Indian kitchen, from dal-sabzi to chutney and salad. In such a situation, due to the increase in its price, housewives may have to cut down on spending on other essential items. People may be forced to reduce the use of tomatoes or look for alternatives.