Tomato prices swell, touches Rs 80 per kg in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Tomato prices in retail markets of the national capital soared to Rs 80 per kg on Friday in view of tight supplies, trade data showed.

The key kitchen staple has become equally dearer in other parts of the country.

For instance, tomato prices in Bengaluru, one of the major producers, are ruling at Rs 45-50 per kg in retail markets. In Aizawl in Mizoram, these are being sold at around Rs 95-100 per kg.

"The availability of tomato is less at present because the crop has been hit badly due to recent rains in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh," said Ashok Kaushik, President of Tomato Merchant Association at Azadpur mandi.

Traders could not source it from Madhya Pradesh as 90 per cent of the crop in the state too got damaged. Farmers have sown again and that crop will arrive in the next 15-20 days, he said. At Azadpur mandi, Asia's largest wholesale market for fruits and vegetables, tomato is being sold at Rs 40-50 kg.