Southwest monsoon has arrived in India providing much needed respite from the scorching heat but has triggered surge in the prices of tomatoes country-wide. At many places, the common household fruit is being sold at or over Rupees 100 per kilogram, reproted ANI. As heavy rain lashed several parts of north India, the tomato crop got damaged due to which adequate quantities of the fruit is not able to reach the wholesale market causing price rise. As per a report, tomatoes are being sold between Rupees 1,100 and 4,000 per quintal in wholesale market in Uttar Pradesh.
A hawker in UP's Kanpur told news agency ANI that tomatoes are being sold at Rupees 100 per kilogram. "We are selling tomatoes at Rs 100 kg. Due to rain, the prices have increased," said the tomato seller.
The national capital is also facing the same issue as tomato prices reach Rupees 80 per kg within a short span on two to three days.
"Tomato is being sold at a price of Rs 80 Kg. The rate has suddenly shot up in the past two-three days," Mohammad Raju, a resident of Delhi told the news agency. The Delhi resident also said that heavy rains caused the surge in prices.
Same situation is prevalant in southern parts of the country as tomato sellers were forced to sell tomatoes for over Rupees 100 kg in Bengaluru.
Increasing prices have forced the consumers to cut short the consumption of tomatoes as vendors say they face less demand for the fruit.
According to vegetable vendors, those who used to buy one kilogram or more tomatoes earlier, are now buying half a kg or less tomatoes.