Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jul 20: There have been times when farmers came out into the streets and expressed their anger at the low rates quoted for the tomatoes grown by them by wholesalers. Fuming at the fact that sometimes even the rental of the vehicles carrying tomatoes from their villages to cities were not covered by these prices, they had emptied their tomatoes on the roads.
The times have changed now. Because of steep reduction in rainfall, tomato crop has been adversely affected, cities are not getting enough inflow of stocks, and hence tomatoes command price of over Rs 90 a kg, which was unheard of in the past. Vegetable vendors have been selling tomatoes anywhere between Rs 90 and 100 a kilogram. This vegetable experienced a big leap on Wednesday due to fallen supplies. The supply has come down to about 10 to 15 percent of what it was earlier, it is gathered. With improvement in rainfall, the position is likely to improve in coming weeks.
Tomatoes were priced at about Rs 15 per kg till two weeks ago before jumping to Rs 65 recently. As tomato supply dwindled further, prices shot up again on Wednesday. Bengaluru rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Mandya districts are the major suppliers of tomato.
Tomato is in high demand from hotels, householders, exporters, juice factories alike and demand keeps pushing its further up. Other vegetables have remained steady with onion being sold at Rs 12 a kg, and potato between Rs 12 and 15. Prices of several vegetables have remained stable except French beans, it is gathered.