Tomato prices shoot up to Rs 80-100 per kg, other vegetables 40-50% costlier

PUNE: Inadequate plantation and short supply have driven the prices of tomatoes to Rs80-100 per kg, depending upon the size and quality of the kitchen staple, in the city’s retail markets.
TOI had in its May 10 edition reported that tomato prices had more than doubled from Rs15 per kg to Rs50 per kg in the retail markets. The prices have since been only on an upward scale.
Domestic consumers are already ruing the rising tomato prices and its impact on their monthly budget. “In fact, prices of all vegetables have gone up by at least 40- 50% compared to last month. We often buy vegetables at a high price. Our housing society has decided to get direct supply from the farmers,” said Erandwane resident Vijaya Jagnade, a healthcare professional.
Priya Tengle, who runs an eatery in the Dhankawadi area, said, “It has become impossible to run the business due to the unpredictable rates of vegetables. We can’t change the rates of food items every now and then.”
Madhukant Garad, chief administrator of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) at Gultekdi, said, “Tomato prices are unlikely to fall for the next three to four weeks, considering the low plantations of the fruit vegetable in the district. Many growers had abandoned plantations in January and February owing to low returns. Also, the farmers did not plant further fearing losses.”
Sanjay Kale, former president of the Narayangaon tomato market in Junnar, said, “Unless we get a new harvest, the rates will not come down. Fresh plantations have taken place in Junnar and Ambegaon tehsils. But we will get the harvest from there only after two to three months.”
APMC records revealed yjay the wholesale market in Gultekdi received 971kg of tomato on Monday. “We usually get over two tonnes of tomato every day. In that case, the prices are between Rs25 and Rs40 per kg. Now, the wholesale prices are in the range of Rs30-60 per kg. The prices further go up to Rs80-100 per kg in the retail markets,” said Dutta Kalamkar, head of the vegetable section of the Gultekdi facility