The National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India, operating under the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, initiated the sale of tomatoes at a subsidized rate of Rs 65 per kg in Delhi, responding to the escalated retail prices which soared to Rs 120-130 in some locations on Monday. Across India, the consumer expenditure for tomatoes has surged to a minimum of Rs 80-90 per kg. Data from the ministry showcased an upsurge in the average prices on October 7, marking a significant rise from the previous month, with the southern zone witnessing a near doubling in price.
The escalation in tomato prices is attributed to a combination of reduced sowing and the destruction of market-ready crops in certain tomato-growing regions due to heavy rainfall in the last week of September, as reported by farmers. The cultivation of tomatoes differs from onions, with only kharif and rabi seasons for tomato farming. The kharif tomatoes are primarily grown in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, whereas the rabi crop is cultivated in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The rabi tomatoes are planted around February-March and harvested after approximately 160 days, and the kharif crop is planted from June to July, extending till September in certain areas of Maharashtra.
Abhijit Gholap, a tomato farmer from Junnar taluka in Pune district, highlighted that the extreme temperatures last year prompted a shift from tomato to alternative crops like maize among many farmers. The area under maize cultivation has increased, attributed to its resilience in extreme weather conditions and the rising demand from grain-based ethanol producers. The prevalence of bacterial and viral diseases has also deterred farmers due to the high cost of tomato cultivation, which requires a substantial capital input of Rs 1-2 lakh per acre, making it less profitable.
The current modal price of tomatoes in the Pimpalgaon Baswant wholesale market in Nashik hovers around Rs 52-55/kg, with expectations of sustained or increased prices in the near term. Despite the arrival of fresh harvests post-Dussehra in Nashik and Telangana, a subsequent supply constraint is anticipated to elevate prices further. With the next crop expected only around March, a substantial decrease in retail tomato prices remains unlikely in the immediate future.
Source: Indian Express