In Karnataka, the price of tomatoes has escalated from Rs 40-42 per kg in early May to Rs 80, due to a supply shortage at the Kolar Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), which is the second-largest tomato market in Asia.
The Kolar APMC has experienced a significant drop in tomato supplies, receiving only 56,600 boxes of 15 kg each, totaling 850 tons, during the peak season. The decline in supply is linked to crop losses in tomato-growing districts such as Mandya, Mysuru, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, and parts of Bengaluru Rural, following a white fly outbreak.
The current price for a 15-kg box of top-quality tomatoes ranges between Rs 650 and Rs 700 at the Kolar APMC. Vijayalakshmi, secretary of Kolar APMC, attributes the price increase not only to seasonal variations but also to the reduced supply. The Department of Horticulture in Kolar noted an expansion in the tomato cultivation area from 3,740 hectares in 2022 to 4,938 hectares in 2023, despite a decrease in yield due to severe temperatures and the anticipation of another white fly outbreak. The ongoing crop survey is expected to shed more light on the summer's cultivation data.
[ Rs 100 = €1.10 ]
Source: deccanherald.com