Tomato prices jump 168% YoY, shows food ministry data

The average retail price of tomatoes jumped 168% from a year ago and surged 70% from the previous month to ₹53.75 per kg as of June 2, according to the data published by the food ministry.

The reason for the skyrocketing prices of fruits and vegetables has been blamed due to extreme weather conditions in India.

Also read: Tomato, green vegetable prices skyrocket due to shortfall in supply

In the southern states, the output of tomatoes has been hit due to crop damage, according to the Union government.

Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey on Thursday (June 2) said retail tomato prices should stabilise in the next two weeks in southern states, where the rates have increased sharply due to crop damage owing to local rains.

As per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry, retail tomato prices are ruling between ₹50 and ₹106 per kg in several locations. The same situation prevails in Maharashtra as well.

Barring Delhi, where tomato is being sold at ₹40 per kg, retail prices in other metro cities were ruling high on June 2. Tomato was sold at ₹77 per kg in Mumbai and Kolkata, and at ₹60 per kg in Chennai on Thursday, the data showed.

“In Delhi, tomato prices are stable. In southern India, prices have risen because of the damage to the crop due to local rains,” Pandey said.

Supplies of tomatoes from states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have dwindled during the current lean period. Unseasonal rains had damaged lemon crops during the flowering stage in several states in January. Then, a heatwave during harvesting in March-April crimped output, a Hindustan Times report said on Saturday (June 4).

In April, prices of lemons leaped to unseen levels, reaching up to ₹200 a kilo, leaving consumers angry and shocked. Heavy rains had damaged lemon plantings in December-January during its nascent flowering stage, it added.

Also, India’s output of the mango crop, the king of fruits, this summer is estimated to have gone down by 20% due to unfavourable weather, the report said.

The prices of essential commodities have gone up due to heatwave conditions, local rains and also the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“Throughout the world, food prices have increased sharply due to crude oil prices, high transport costs due to container shortage, and trade disruptions due to the current geopolitical scenario,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said.

“Indian consumers have got relief in their food basket due to these pre-emptive steps taken by the Government to control the sharp increase in the prices of essential items such as edible oils, wheat, rice, atta and sugar,” it added.

(With inputs from agencies)