Traders attribute high costs to supply shortages
Posted Date – Wed Jun 28 23 07:40 AM
Hyderabad: Like several other metropolises, retail tomato prices in Hyderabad have also surged in the past few days. Tomatoes, a staple in almost all Indian dishes, have fetched up to Rs 100 a kilo.
Needless to say, market-goers and those who are used to ordering online have been surprised at the massive price hike. Soaring prices for tomatoes, one of the most common vegetables used in almost any dish, are forcing customers to buy less.
Vendors at the Madannapet vegetable market said the price increase was mainly due to insufficient supply in the market. Currently, a box of tomatoes of about 23 kg is priced between Rs 1,600 and Rs 2,000. Similarly, a box of small tomatoes costs Rs 1,200. The price of tomatoes in the market has risen to Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kg and in some cases even Rs 100 depending on the quality.
Bala Narasimha, a vendor at the Madannapet vegetable market, attributed the recent price hike to a delayed monsoon and a prolonged heat wave. These weather conditions have affected tomato cultivation in Telangana, leading to reduced supply, he said. Persistent rains in summer also had a negative impact on yields.
According to traders, prices have increased in the past 15-20 days. Earlier, tomatoes were sold at Rs 35-45 per kg. Prices for both native varieties and hybrids have increased significantly in recent weeks.
However, some vendors are hopeful that the arrival of the monsoon might bring some relief to household budgets. In Hyderabad, tomatoes are imported from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
