Tomato price up by Rs 50/kg in a day

CHENNAI: Belying the glimmer of hope of a reduction, tomato price skyrocketed to a record high of Rs 200 per kg in the wholesale market itself on Sunday after its price went up by a whopping Rs 50/kg in a single day due to severe supply shortage. It may even go to Rs 250 in the coming days, said traders.

In the 27 years since the Koyambedu market complex opened, this is the first time that tomato price has gone up to this level, said P Sukumaran, secretary, Koyambedu Wholesale Merchants’ Association. “We have never faced such a severe supply shortage. At present, only about 200-250 tonnes of the produce is reaching the market from AP and Karnataka,” he said.

Even before the recent heavy spell of rain in neighbouring states damaged about 50 per cent of the crop, the traders and consumers in the city were reeling under the impact of price rise after the crop in tomato hubs in the northern parts of the country were hit by intense showers.

Interestingly, many retail vendors are selling tomatoes for Rs 185/kg – lesser than the prevailing wholesale price – to avoid wastage. A Mariappan, a shop owner in Kilpauk, said he sold a box containing 25 kg tomatoes for Rs 4,500, which works out to Rs 180/kg. With customers buying very small quantities, retailers are keen to sell off the stock to avoid wastage that results in a bigger loss.

To put this record-setting price rise in context, a kilo of tomato cost only Rs 8-12 in July 2022, while it hovered around Rs 10 to Rs 25 between December 2022 and February. The surge began in June, and the price remained high ever since.