Industry Odisha Bureau, Jul 5: Since excessive heat has reportedly damaged the summer crop as well as the procurement costs have gone higher due to the higher fuel costs, retail prices of tomato are reportedly rising once again.
Media reports quoting data availed from the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs stated, “While the average retail price stood at Rs 42.5 per kg on June 30, the retail tomato prices have risen 16% over the past month and 23% from a year earlier.”
Media reports quoting market experts also said that, “Prices in the wholesale markets are up 18% month-on-month (MoM) and 28% year-on-year (YoY). Prices in major centres are up between 30% and 50% owing to excessive heat that hit the crop in the months of February and March.”
As per the agricultural and market experts, “Tomato crop is grown in three seasons, such as Summer, Kharif (rainy), and Rabi (winter/spring) a year. It is a crop grown in a span of 60-90 days. While the tomato crop grown in Kharip season contributes about 45% of its annual production, the Rabi season’s tomato crop contributes about 30-35%. The tomato crop grown in the Summer season generally caters to the needs during the lean period of June-August, but this time excessive heat has taken a toll on it. Hence, till the Kharif production’s fresh arrivals flood the markets, inadequate supply of tomato is very likely to torture the consumers with its higher retail prices.”
The agricultural and market experts have also reportedly anticipated that, “The retail prices of tomato could rise to Rs 100 per kg and even above during the lean period of July and August if supplies remain tight and monsoon-related disruptions intensify.”
As per reports, “Current price of tomatoes in India varies based on the location and market conditions. While the maximum price is Rs 6,000 per quintal, the minimum price is Rs 800 per quintal, and the average price is approximately Rs 27.2 per kg. In some regions, such as Delhi, the price has surged to Rs 80 per kg.”
Need to be mentioned here that, “Tomato prices had surged to as high as Rs 300 per kg in several parts of the country in 2023 after an early heatwave reduced yields and heavy July rains disrupted transportation then.”
