Tomato, green vegetable prices skyrocket due to shortfall in supply

The prices of tomatoes and green vegetables have skyrocketed, burning a hole in the common man’s pocket.

In the national capital, tomatoes are selling at ₹60-80, while in other cities, its prices have shot up to ₹100. This sharp rise in prices is due to a shortfall in supply, said reports.

Besides tomatoes, green vegetables too have become more expensive as compared to last week. What’s worse is that these prices are expected to increase further in the coming days. The argument given by the vendors is that vegetables become expensive during the rainy season.

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According to traders at Azadpur and Ghazipur Mandi, Asia’s largest vegetable and fruit market, the quantity of tomatoes (in the market) has fallen down to about a third, said an IANS report. This has led to a steep rise in its prices. Tomato is selling at ₹65-80 per kg in the retail market.

In Delhi, lemon is being sold for ₹200 to ₹250 per kg. Similarly, brinjal is at ₹60-80 per kg, calabash (laoki) ₹50, cauliflower ₹100 to ₹120, onion and potatoes ₹40, capsicum ₹100 to ₹130, carrot ₹80 and spinach is being sold at ₹60 per kg, said the report.

Clearly, the shortfall has spurred the hike in prices. Farmers fearing that they would incur losses have not planted new crops and this is expected to trigger a further spike in the prices of vegetables in the coming days.