TOMATO SCARCITY SPURS PRICE SURGE, REACHING RS 80-100 PER KG

Prices have also skyrocketed in K'taka and its capital city Bengaluru as incessant rains have damaged the crop

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There has been a recent surge in tomato prices nationwide, with the cost per kilogram skyrocketing from Rs 10-20 to Rs 80-100. This increase is due to a decrease in tomato supply caused by heatwaves in tomato-growing regions and heavy rainfall.

Ajay Kedia, an expert in commodity markets based in Mumbai and the head of Kedia Advisory, explained, “This year, for a variety of reasons, fewer tomatoes were sown than in prior years. As the price of beans surged last year, many farmers switched to growing beans this year. However, a lack of monsoon rains has caused the crops to dry out and wilt. The limited supply of vegetables, particularly tomatoes are due to crop damage caused by heavy rainfall and extreme heat.”