- Tomato prices in Delhi, which peaked at Rs 75 per kg, are anticipated to decline soon due to increased supplies from southern states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
- Extreme weather conditions, including heatwaves and heavy rainfall, disrupted tomato supplies, leading to price spikes across major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
- Delhi currently depends on tomato supplies from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, but prices are expected to stabilize as hybrid tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka enter the market, easing the supply-demand gap.
- The government does not plan to reintroduce subsidized tomato sales this year, confident that prices will stabilize naturally as southern state supplies increase.
Tomato Prices Set to Drop on Increased Supply from Andhra, Karnataka
The retail price of tomatoes, which soared to Rs 75 per kg in Delhi, is expected to decline in the coming weeks as supplies from southern states improve, according to a government official.
Extreme weather conditions, including heatwaves and heavy rainfall, disrupted tomato, potato, and onion supplies, leading to price spikes in major cities, the official stated anonymously to PTI.
In Delhi, tomato prices reached Rs 75/kg, down from Rs 150/kg last year. Mumbai reported prices at Rs 83/kg, while Kolkata recorded Rs 80/kg.
Currently, Delhi relies on tomato supplies from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, but prices are expected to ease as hybrid tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka enter the market.
Last year, subsidized tomato sales were reintroduced when prices exceeded Rs 110/kg, but the government currently does not plan to implement such measures.
The official, according to Economic Times, expressed confidence that prices would stabilize within 1-2 weeks as supplies from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka increase.
Despite lower potato production this year, India maintains adequate stocks of 283 lakh tonnes, ensuring domestic demand is met. Onion prices are also expected to decrease with the arrival of the new crop in September.
Adverse weather conditions have disrupted supply chains, affecting prices of tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and other vegetables in major cities.
The government anticipates prices will normalize in the coming weeks, contingent upon weather conditions remaining favorable.