Tomato Prices Likely To Touch Rs 300 Per Kg In Weeks Ahead

Heavy rainfall in some regions has resulted in damage and loss of tomatoes, while inadequate showers in other areas have affected production and transportation. Agriculture experts predict that the cost is likely to escalate further, likely to touch Rs 300 per kg in the coming weeks.

According to Sanjay Gupta, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Commodities Management Services Limited (NCML), the problem of price inflation will persist for some time. Gupta stated that due to the ongoing rains, new tomato plantations are not feasible, and prices will continue to rise in the weeks ahead. He added that it may take a minimum of two months before prices stabilize, as reported by Money Control,.

In June, tomato prices stood at Rs 40 per kg, but by the first week of July, they had surged to an average of Rs 100 per kg. The heavy rainfall adversely affected the supply from various regions, causing the prices to further increase to an average of Rs 200 per kg.

Tomatoes are primarily cultivated in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana. These states account for 91 percent of the country's total tomato production, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Currently, the supply of tomatoes is limited to southern and some northeastern areas. The scarcity cannot be solely attributed to weather conditions, as tomatoes are a short-duration crop highly sensitive to heat and susceptible to viruses. A portion of the crop was destroyed due to an early heatwave that affected large parts of India between February and March. Additionally, two different viruses caused damage to crops in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Farmers also contribute to the low production as they have lost hope of receiving fair prices for their cultivated crops.

To curb the rising retail prices, on July 12, the Department of Consumer Affairs instructed the procurement of tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka for distribution in major consumption centers. The ministry stated that new crop arrivals are expected soon, which should lead to a decrease in prices in the near future.