Tomato prices remained firm on poor arrivals amid crop damage due to unseasonal rains in major growing states.
According to government data, the retail price of tomatoes rose to Rs 93 per kg in metros on Monday due to sluggish arrivals in mandis amid reports of crop failure due to unseasonal rains.
Among metro cities, tomatoes were sold at 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 on Monday.
Out of 175 cities tracked by the consumer affairs ministry, the retail price of tomatoes was ruling at over Rs 50 per kg in more than 50 cities.
In wholesale markets too, tomatoes are selling 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.
Tomato prices remained firm on poor arrivals amid crop damage due to unseasonal rains in major growing states.
In Mumbai, tomato arrivals were lower by 241 tonnes on October 16 as compared to 290 tonnes a week ago, while arrivals in Delhi were 528.9 tonnes and Kolkata at 545 tonnes on the same date. Data for three metro cities.
“We are not getting good quality tomatoes from the mandi itself due to rain. Consumers choose good tomatoes and they get rotten which causes us loss. So, we keep the rates like this to make up for that loss as well. Shivlal Yadav, a vegetable vendor selling in Delhi’s Karol Bagh Colony, said.
Presently, harvesting is underway in the major producing states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Last week, Azadpur Tomato Association president Ashok Kaushik had said, “Unseasonal rains in producing states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have damaged the crop, affecting supply in consumer markets like Delhi. This has led to a rise in prices.” in the wholesale and retail markets.”
Tomato crop is ready for harvesting in about 2-3 months after sowing. Harvesting is done as per the requirement of the market.
According to the National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, India, the world’s second largest tomato producer after China, produces about 19.75 million tonnes with an average yield of about 25.05 tonnes per hectare from an area of 7.89 lakh hectares.
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