Tomato prices at 3-year low, farmers selling at Rs 4-10

Delhi, May 24, 2020

In the wholesale markets of Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad, tomatoes fell to a three-year low of Rs 4-10 per kg. On May 22 last year, the price of tomato in Delhi’s Azadpur wholesale market was Rs 14.30 per kg. While in Hyderabad and Bangalore it was priced at Rs 30. The price was the same in Gujarat. At present, tomatoes are sold at Rs 5-10 per kg in Gujarat.

Tomato prices have come down due to low demand as goods do not reach the people in the lockdown. In addition, the price of perishable tomatoes has come down sharply due to lack of easy transport facilities. The current ideal price in Azadpur Mandi is Rs 440 per quintal. Last year, the price was Rs. Was 1,258. Tomatoes are supplied to Delhi from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

In the Bowenpalli wholesale market in Hyderabad, the price of tomato is Rs. Was 5. A year ago this was Rs 34. Similarly, the wholesale price of tomatoes in Bengaluru on Friday was Rs 10 per kg. Which was Rs 30 a year ago.

The Ministry of Food Processing tracks 52 districts to provide market connectivity. In 40 of these tomato-growing areas, tomato prices are running below the 3-year seasonal average. In 5 tomato clusters in Kola district of Karnataka, the price of tomatoes is Rs. 3-8 per kg depending on the quality. A year ago, the price was Rs. Was 14-35.

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have the highest tomato production in the country. A total of 4.2 million tonnes of tomatoes are expected to be produced in both the states this year. The annual demand for tomatoes in the country is 111 lakh tonnes. It is supplied only from domestic production. According to the ministry, the country is expected to produce 193.28 lakh tonnes of tomatoes in the 2019-20 crop season (July-June).