Tomato prices have surged beyond Rs 100 per kilogram, marking a sharp 66 percent increase within a month in Delhi-NCR region. Market rates of tomatoes currently range from Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kg, while online retail platforms like Jio Mart, Instamart, and Blinkit list them at Rs 96 to Rs 109 per kg. Despite these high prices, farmers receive only 40 percent of the market rate.
According to the Minisrty of Consumer Affairs Department's Price Monitoring Division, the average retail price of tomatoes is now Rs 67.5 per kg, up from Rs 42.99 per kg just a month ago, a 59 percent rise. While tomatoes, which were being sold in the market for Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg till a month ago, have now reached Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kg.
The primary reason behind the price rise is heavy rains in key tomato-producing states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, which have damaged crops and led to reduced production. With the tomato season over in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, supply has further dwindled.
Shriram Gadhve, President of the Indian Vegetable Producers Association, told Rural Voice that the rain-hit crops in South India have tightened supply, particularly in North India, where prices are higher. He expects the situation to persist for the next two to three months, with prices likely to drop only when new crops arrive in January-February.
While market prices remain high, farmers continue to see limited profits. In Himachal Pradesh's Solan Mandi, wholesale prices of tomatoes have gone up to Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 per crate (around 25 kg). Satish Kaushal, a commission agent at Solan Mandi, told Rural Voice that hybrid tomatoes are selling for Rs 1000 to Rs 1200 per crate, while Himsona and Desi tomatoes are selling for Rs 1500 per crate in the mandi. However, farmers say that prices rise every year, but middlemen prevent them from getting the full benefit. They get some relief from the price increase, but only for a few months.
To control the rising prices of tomatoes, the central government is selling tomatoes at subsidized rates through its agencies. The National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India (NCCF) is selling tomatoes for Rs 65 per kg in Delhi and other NCR cities. According to a press release from the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, tomato prices have increased a lot in recent weeks, even though there has been a steady supply in the markets. Heavy rains and high humidity in major tomato-producing states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have damaged the crops and affected their quality, causing supply disruptions and sharp price increases.