With the price of tomatoes nearing ₹60 (€0.74) per kg and expected to rise by another ₹5 in the next two days, many Indian’s favourite tomato dishes may end up leaving a more sour taste than usual.
The rate chart from the Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (Hopcoms) lists the cost of tomatoes as ₹58 per kg. However, it is being sold at prices going up to ₹70 at retail stores. The price has gone up three times in the last few weeks, from ₹20 per kg in the beginning of December. The cost in August was as low as ₹3 per kg, due to high yields.
Newindianexpress.com quoted a horticulture official as saying: “Normally, Bengaluru gets 500 tonnes of tomatoes every day, but this time it has come down to half. Since consumption remains the same, reduced supply has increased the price.’’
The crop has been damaged and the yield is expected to be half the usual produce due to powdery fungus and downy mildew on tomatoes brought about by drought and cold. “The price will remain the same or increase by another ‘5. We are hoping the price will come down by January end or February beginning,’’ Keshav, Procurement and Marketing Manager, Hopcoms, said.
