Tomato Prices Surged Rs 80 per kg, Likely to Remain the Same for the Next Two Months

New Delhi: On Tuesday, a Chennai market recorded the highest price tomatoes, Rs. 80 per kg. It was Rs. 44 per kg on June 1. Tomato prices have escalated across the country, while the metro cities are the most affected. Reports are that the reason behind inflation of this particular vegetable id the ‘sluggish supply owing to crop damage.’

The Consumers Affairs Ministry, following the inflation, has asserted that the kitchen vegetable was only Rs. 20-40 per kg since last month to earlier this month. EXIN Times reports asserted that while Chennai has recorded the maximum rates of tomatoes, Kolkata is selling the vegetable in Rs. 60 per kg. In Mumbai, the rates are Rs. 58 per kg from 38 per kg while in Delhi, prices have surged to Rs. 51 per kg from Rs. 25 per kg.

Apart from sluggish supply, reports said that rain in south Indian state have affected tomato prices as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Odisha are the major tomato growing states in the country. Inadequate cold storage facilities in the supply chain also had contributed the surging rates. 

Following the escalating food prices, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that he will review the situation on Wednesday and also will discuss the steps to check retail prices of vegetables. “The finance minister has called tomorrow a meeting with ministers and secretaries concerned to discuss prices of essential commodities like pulses and tomato,” the ministry officials said. The step toward checking of retail prices of commodities by the ministry is a follow-up of surging pulses rates that are ruling in Rs. 170 per kg apart and tomatoes of Rs. 80 per kg.