Tomato Prices Hit Roof In Several Indian Cities, Surge Past Rs 80/Kg

Prices of tomatoes once again witnessed sharp surge in several cities of India and likely to impact budget of several households across the country. Tomato prices crossed Rs 80 per kilogram mark in many cities of the country due to adverse weather conditions and heatwave conditions prevailed in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh during the month of June.

These conditions led to severe damage to the tomato crops in many parts of India. Consequently, the supply and production of tomatoes affected leading to jump in tomato prices. As per reports available, the soaring mercury in many key growing parts of India caused 35% decline in tomato yields.

These conditions extensively damaged crops across large parts of India, impacting the supply and production of tomatoes. Reports indicate that high temperatures in key growing regions led to a 35 per cent reduction in tomato yields.

On being asked reasons of sudden jump in the prices of tomatoes in Noida and some other parts in the country, Vipin Kumar Tiwari, a vendor in Noida's Stellar Jeevan Society said, "the prices of tomato spiked due to recent heatwave and current excessive rain in several parts of the country. These factors affected the tomato crop and pushed the prices higher."

Big Basket for Noida region is quoting local tomato at Rs 75 per kg and hybrid tomato at Rs 82 per kg. On Blinkit, if you are planning to buy 500 grams Hybrid tomato, you need to shell out Rs 48.

Meanwhile, Noida-based housewife Bhavna Kumar also devised her own strategy to cope with the rising prices. She said, "ideally one should stop buying the commodity if its price gets hiked beyond a certain limit. However, if you can afford it, it is better to buy tomatoes even at higher prices and eat your home-made food instead of spending your money on burgers and pizzas."

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall also contributed majorly to the already rising tomato prices. Excessive rains not only damaged the road networks but also disrupted the supply chain thus impacting significantly the availability of tomatoes in several leading markets.

Higher transport-related wastage further worsened the scarcity and pushed the prices of the crop even higher.

Farmers stated that incessant heavy rains flooded fields and led to huge damage to vegetable crops. This has resulted in reduced arrivals of vegetables in markets, rapidly driving up prices.

Last year also around the month of June, prices of tomatoes crossed Rs 100 per kg mark in many Indian cities due to shortage in supply, low production, and delayed monsoon in some parts of the country.