The Humble Tomato Is Dearer By Rs 100/KG

Bhubaneswar, June 27: The humble tomato isn’t selling for a modest sum anymore. A closer look at retail prices across markets in the state reveals that the juicy vegetable has become dearer by Rs 100 per kg.

Tomato, a staple vegetable in Indian households, has seen a sudden spike in prices, with the traders blaming it on a drastic fall in supplies. At the Unit-I market, the asking rate for a kg is Rs 80, which vendors are reluctantly demanding, maintaining that it will sell at Rs 100-110 a kg in no time. 

“Last week I bought a kg of tomato at Rs 45. But I was surprised to find the prices of tomatoes have hit the roof. I got it for Rs 90 kg, today, settling for 500 grams instead,” said Nikunja Nayak, a city resident. 

In towns such as Balasore and Berhampur as well, the price of the vegetable has touched Rs 100 and above. 

Officer bearers of the Chhatra Bazaar Traders’ Association in Cuttack attributed the steep hike in price to the incessant rainfall in Bengaluru, the major Tomato producing centre. Talking to the media, they said yield has decreased due to active monsoon in Karnataka along with the southern states. The situation, they feared, will persist for another couple of weeks. 

Consumers across the country have been equally hit by the rise in the tomato rate. According to a report in Money Control, the product was selling for over Rs 100 per kilo in several states.