Pune: Here’s good news! Finally, the price of the inevitable ingredient of Indian cooking, tomato has been slashed after its supply was increased by 20 per cent.
The increase in supply took place as supply of tomatoes to Karnataka halted. However, Vegetable Growers Association of India expect this 10 to 12 per cent dip will continue for two weeks after which the price will soar again.
As the season for mangoes nears its end, seasonal fruits like litchi have arrived in the market. The supply of litchi is less compared to last year, however traders expect supply to increase by 20 to 30 per cent after Ramzan.
Tomato supply may decline
“The supply of tomatoes has increased by 20 per cent compared to last week. Wholesale price of tomatoes has reduced from Rs 30 to Rs 25 this week. This Sunday, a total of 2,410 quintals of tomatoes came to the market,” said Agriculture Produce Market Committee Vegetable and Fruit Head Baba Bibwe.
Vegetable Growers Association President Shriram Gahave said, “The supply has increased because of less demand from Karnataka.”
“Earlier, we were supplying tomatoes to Karnataka but now it has stopped due to substantial local production, reducing the demand,” Gahave further said.
“However, there will be a 10 to 12 per cent dip in supply of tomatoes in two weeks, increasing the price,” he added.
This year, due to extensive heat the yield of tomatoes in Maharashtra is not good and the situation will improve only when the monsoon arrives. A further rise in price in first two weeks of June is expected,” added Gahave.
Swikar Badhe, tomato grower from Junnar said, “There will a dip in supply till the time monsoon arrives. In Junnar, there is 20 per cent dip in production of tomatoes due to unfavourable climatic condition. The quality of tomatoes is also not very good.”
Litchi supply may increase
“Today, a total of 1,200 boxes, each containing 10 kg of litchi have arrived in the market. These are mostly from states like Bihar and West Bengal and the season will continue till the end of the month of June. The supply has increased compared to last week. However, the price is stable as the wholesale price remains Rs 100 to Rs 120. It is expected that the supply will increase in next two weeks by 20 per cent,” said APMC Fruit and Onion Potato Head Dattatray Kalamkar.
“This year, there is a good crop of litchi, however the supply of litchi this year is less than last year because of rain in West Bengal. Supply of Muzaffarpur litchi has just started and hopefully after Ramzan there will be a 20 per cent of increase in the supply of litchi,” said Rajesh Pardeshi, a wholesale litchi trader in Market Yard.
“Earlier, there was not much demand for litchi in Pune but in last five to six years the demand has increased. People have started liking it and hence there is good supply of this seasonal fruit,” Pardeshi further added.