Jobaaj Stories
Wholesale traders are sounding the alarm as the cost of a kitchen staple, the tomato, inches closer to Rs 300 per kilogram. Vegetable wholesalers are suffering losses significantly due to a steep decline in sales of tomatoes, capsicum, and other seasonal vegetables. The wholesale market has witnessed a surge in tomato prices, soaring from Rs 160 to Rs 220 per kilo, which could inevitably impact retail prices.
The ongoing pressure on tomato prices can be traced back to disruptions in supply over a month due to heavy rainfall affecting key producing regions. Severe transportation challenges have arisen due to landslides and incessant rain in Himachal Pradesh. Exporting vegetables from these regions has become notably time-consuming which results in quality degradation and potential further price hikes.
Anil Malhotra, a member of the Azadpur Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee, explained the confluence of low supply and demand in the tomato market, leading to challenges faced by vendors. "Vendors are facing difficulties like late exportation of vegetables, deterioration of quality. Moreover, customers have been refusing to buy vegetables like tomatoes, capsicum, cauliflower, and cabbage," Malhotra said.
According to Azadpur Tomato Association President Ashok Kaushik, "In the last three days, the arrival of tomatoes has reduced as the crop has been damaged in the growing regions because of heavy rainfall." As a result, wholesale tomato prices at the Azadpur mandi currently fluctuate between Rs 170 and Rs 220 per kg, contingent on the quality of the produce.
As the situation unfolds, consumers brace themselves for the possibility of tomato prices reaching Rs 300/kg further underscoring the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in maintaining a stable supply chain amidst unpredictable weather patterns.
— Harshita Kumar
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