Tomato prices nearing Rs-200 mark in Andhra Pradesh

CHITTOOR: Tomato prices inched closer to the Rs-200 mark in Madanapalle, Asia’s largest tomato market. With Saturday’s fresh hike, first-grade variety tomatoes were being sold at record high prices of Rs 196 per kg while the second-grade variety was sold at Rs 156 per kg in Madanapalle.

Going by the current trend, it seems the woes of consumers buying tomatoes would continue for a few more days as the price of kitchen staples is not likely to come down anytime soon. On Saturday, the Madanapalle market received a meager 253 Metric Tonnes (MT) of produce from the local farmers, against the daily average of around 800-900 MT. Traders attributed poor yields in tomato producing areas and the end of the season was the major reason for the sudden surge in prices.

In Madanapalle market, the first-grade variety tomatoes were being sold between Rs 160-196 per kg, while the second-grade variety was sold between Rs 120-156 per kg. Traders purchased a 25 kg basket of tomatoes between Rs 4,500-4,900 on Saturday. “Prices may start coming down in the first week of August when the fresh harvest from Anantapur region hits the market. Until then, consumers must continue to bear the unusual price surge of tomatoes,” said Madanapalle Tomato Market Yard Secretary T Abilash.

In Hyderabad, the retail price of the first and second grade varieties of tomatoes were being sold at Rs 160 and Rs 110 per kg respectively. At Rythu Bazars, the tomatoes were sold between Rs 90 and Rs 100 a kg. Traders maintained that apart from cultivating the crop in Adilabad, Medak, Mahabubnagar and Ranga Reddy districts of Telangana, tomatoes were also purchased from neighbouring states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Heavy rains and poor yields in tomato cultivation areas created a shortage and sudden demand for the vegetable. The new harvest of the tomatoes produced in Telangana is expected to reach the markets by August, while the produce from the neighbouring states may reach the State by September, the traders said.