Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct.19: Along with the price of petrol and diesel, the price of tomatoes appears to be hurting the ordinary man’s purse during the country’s current festive season. According to PTI, which cited government data, the retail price of tomatoes has risen to Rs 93 per kg due to delayed arrival in mandis and reports of crop damage due to unseasonal rainfall. The prices were Rs 93 per kg in Kolkata, Rs 60 per kg in Chennai, Rs 59 per kg in Delhi, and Rs. 53 per kg in Mumbai among metro cities.
According to the PTI report, the retail price of tomatoes was over Rs 50 per kg in over 50 of the 175 cities monitored by the Consumer Affairs Ministry.
On Monday, tomatoes were sold at Rs 84 per kg in Kolkata, Rs 52 per kg in Chennai, Rs 30 per kg in Mumbai, and Rs 29.50 per kg in Delhi at wholesale marketplaces.
This is despite the fact that India, after China, is the world’s second-largest tomato grower. According to the National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, the country produces roughly 19.75 million tonnes from an area of 7.89 lakh hectares with an average yield of 25.05 tonnes per hectare.
Tomato prices are holding high due to a lack of supply and crop damage caused by unseasonal rains in key production areas.
According to government data, tomato arrivals in Mumbai were 241 tonnes on October 16 compared to 290 tonnes a week earlier, while arrivals in Delhi and Kolkata were 528.9 tonnes and 545 tonnes on the same date, respectively, according to government data that did not have comparable data for the three metro cities.
Harvesting is currently taking place in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, which are all important growing states. In around 2-3 months after planting, the tomato crop is ready to harvest. Harvesting is done in accordance with market demand.
