Tomato trouble: Capital bucks trend, pegs back prices

Wholesale prices of tomatoes, which were ruling as high as Rs 60/kg in Azadpur Mandi two days back, on Friday fell by up to Rs 20 per kg to Rs 40/kg, although retail prices are still ruling at Rs 50-80/kg depending on the quality and locality.

“This is a lean season for tomato. The price rise is a temporary phenomenon and it will phase out soon. In Delhi, there is no issue as tomatoes from hilly areas have started arriving,” Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak said.

Wholesale tomato prices have started cooling down in the national Capital on improved supplies, he said, and exuded confidence that prices in other parts would also ease with the arrival of fresh crop.

Tomato Merchants’ Association president Ashok Kaushik said: “The supply situation in Delhi mandis has started improving with the arrival of over 350 tonnes of tomatoes from Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. The prices as a result have come down by up to Rs 20/kg in the wholesale market.” 

He further added that due to rain in the wee hours, the tomatoes were destroyed and farmers were forced to sell them at a low price. Delhi’s wholesale vegetable markets also witnessed low prices of tomatoes.

The wholesale prices of high quality tomato variety ‘Sona’ from Himachal Pradesh fell to Rs 40-50/kg on Friday from Rs 40-60/kg in the last two days. Prices of tomatoes of Haryana also declined to Rs 20-30/kg on Friday from Rs 40-50/kg in the last two days, he said.

Rajender Sharma, president of Azadpur wholesale vegetable market added:  “The prices came down to Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kg from Rs 40 to Rs 70 per kg on Thursday. It is due to increased supply and low demand as people avoid costly vegetables or purchase them in less quantities.” 

However, the fall in wholesale rates in Delhi are yet to be reflected in the unorganised retail markets, where tomato is being sold by local vegetable vendors at Rs 50-80/kg depending on the quality and locality. Tomatoes were sold at Rs 58/kg at Mother Dairy’s Safal outlets. Godrej’s Nature Basket was selling at Rs 80/kg and e-portal Bigbasket was offering it at Rs 55/kg.

 The tight supply-demand situation owing to some rabi crop damage has flared up tomato prices in both wholesale and retail market in last more than 15 days across the country.

A senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official had on Thursday said that tomato prices would continue to be under pressure till arrival of fresh crop from September onwards.