The retail price of tomatoes skyrocket to Rs. 93 per kg in metros due to sluggish arrival in mandis as unseasonal rains damage the crops, according to the government data. 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 data showed.
The retail price of tomatoes was ruling at more than Rs. 50 per kg in over 50 cities out of 175-odd cities tracked by the consumer affairs ministry. Even in the wholesale markets, tomatoes were sold at Rs. 84 per kg in Kolkata, at Rs. 52 per kg in Chennai, Rs. 30 per kg in Mumbai and Rs. 29.50 per kg in Delhi on Monday, the data showed.
Tomato prices are ruling firm due to poor arrival amid the damage of the crop because of the unseasonal rains in key growing states. In Mumbai, tomato arrival was lower at 241 tons on October 16 as against 290 tons a week ago, while arrival was at 528.9 tons in Delhi and 545 tons in Kolkata on the same date, according to the government data that did not have a comparable data for three metro cities.
Presently, harvesting is happening in key growing 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 due to which the supply to consuming markets like Delhi has been affected. This has led to a rise in prices both in wholesale and retail markets.”
The Tomato crop is ready for harvest in about 2-3 months after planting. Harvesting is done as per the requirement of the market. India, the world’s second-largest tomato producer after China, produces around 19.75 million tons from an area of 7.89 lakh hectares with an average yield of 25.05 tons per hectare, according to the National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation.