Due to the recent heatwaves and heavy rain in tomato-growing regions, the supply of tomatoes has declined, leading to a sudden increase in prices from Rs 10-20 per kg to Rs 80-100 per kg across markets in the country.
Ajay Kedia, a Mumbai-based commodity market expert and head of Kedia Advisory said, "This year, for a variety of reasons, fewer tomatoes were sown than in prior years. As the price of beans surged last year, many farmers switched to growing beans this year.
However, a lack of monsoon rains has caused the crops to dry out and wilt. The limited supply of vegetables, particularly tomatoes are due to crop damage caused by heavy rainfall and extreme heat."
The excessive and persistent rains in Karnataka and its capital, Bengaluru, have caused damage to the tomato crops, leading to a sharp increase in prices.
In Bengaluru, the cost of tomatoes has reached up to Rs 100 per kg, while in other places such as Kanpur and Delhi, the price has surged from Rs 40-50 per kg to Rs 100 per kg and Rs 80 per kg, respectively.
According to the database maintained by the Price Monitoring Division under the Department of Consumer Affairs, per kilo, tomatoes on average rose from Rs 25 to Rs 41 in retail markets. Maximum prices of tomatoes in retail markets were in the range of Rs 80-113.
The rates of staple vegetables were in tune with the rise in their prices in wholesale markets, which jumped about 60-70 percent on average in June.
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