In Bengaluru, tomato prices have significantly dropped from nearly Rs 100 per kilogramme to Rs 10-20 per kg due to political unrest in Bangladesh. This situation has led to a reduction in tomato exports from Kolar, Bengaluru's key tomato market, to Bangladesh, adversely affecting local farmers and merchants. Previously, between 800 and 1,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes were exported to Bangladesh, but this figure has drastically fallen to 50-60 MT in recent weeks. Merchants like Khaleel have experienced a decrease in demand, affecting the market's dynamics and financial stability, with outstanding payments from Bangladeshi traders amounting to Rs 400-500 mln.
Concurrently, the agricultural sector anticipates a rise in tomato and vegetable prices due to heavy rainfall, which poses a risk of spoilage to crops, including tomatoes, groundnuts, pulses, sunflowers, and betel leaves. The excessive moisture has already impacted the Nayakanahatti region, with farmers facing challenges in managing water accumulation. In contrast, ginger prices have seen a drastic decline, affecting farmers' income and prompting a shift to alternative crops.
[ Rs 100 = €1.10 ]
Source: bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com