Panaji: The sharp rise in tomato prices in the past one week has not only pushed the juicy fruit out of the kitchen, but has also ensured that beer is affordable in the tourist state. While the popular Goa kings Pilsner sells for Rs 60, a kilogram of tomato competing with petrol, at around Rs 100 per kg.
Even as unseasonal rains pushed tomato prices higher, liquor prices in Goa remained largely stagnant, resulting in tippers tasting the delicious irony of gold on the wallet compared to red .
While it is true that some tomatoes are available for around Rs 70 per kg (still more expensive than a pint of Kings), these, according to one angry shopkeeper, are “positively disappointing and not worth buying” – Words no tippler would ever use to describe his determination of liquid courage.
Meanwhile, while tomatoes are disappearing from chili fries and omelets, some families are buying the red fruit in smaller quantities, hoping its price will stabilize soon. For those with more pockets, spotting a crisp blue 100 rupee note for a kilo of tomatoes is the new normal.
It’s not just the local beer that the tomato has gone hollow. even 750 ml Neelkanth or Tuborg85 per bottle, cheaper than a kilogram of the kitchen staple. Fuel prices are also at higher levels with petrol retailing at Rs 96 per liter and diesel at Rs 87 per litre.
Goa – which has the lowest alcohol tax in the country, resulting in cheaper alcohol – is dependent on its neighbors for vegetables. This is about 150 tonnes of red fruits Hubli and . receives from Belagavi daily. The demand is even higher this December, as the state sees a swell of tourists.
Vegetable suppliers say prices have already shown a downward trend and are expected to normalize in the next fortnight. However, until then, for those who have a tight budget and need to choose one over the other, the beer will certainly be light on the pocket.
Even as unseasonal rains pushed tomato prices higher, liquor prices in Goa remained largely stagnant, resulting in tippers tasting the delicious irony of gold on the wallet compared to red .
While it is true that some tomatoes are available for around Rs 70 per kg (still more expensive than a pint of Kings), these, according to one angry shopkeeper, are “positively disappointing and not worth buying” – Words no tippler would ever use to describe his determination of liquid courage.
Meanwhile, while tomatoes are disappearing from chili fries and omelets, some families are buying the red fruit in smaller quantities, hoping its price will stabilize soon. For those with more pockets, spotting a crisp blue 100 rupee note for a kilo of tomatoes is the new normal.
It’s not just the local beer that the tomato has gone hollow. even 750 ml Neelkanth or Tuborg85 per bottle, cheaper than a kilogram of the kitchen staple. Fuel prices are also at higher levels with petrol retailing at Rs 96 per liter and diesel at Rs 87 per litre.
Goa – which has the lowest alcohol tax in the country, resulting in cheaper alcohol – is dependent on its neighbors for vegetables. This is about 150 tonnes of red fruits Hubli and . receives from Belagavi daily. The demand is even higher this December, as the state sees a swell of tourists.
Vegetable suppliers say prices have already shown a downward trend and are expected to normalize in the next fortnight. However, until then, for those who have a tight budget and need to choose one over the other, the beer will certainly be light on the pocket.
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