Tomato became cheaper, price fell by 22 percent
Raipur/Delhi. The central government says that the price of tomato has come down by about 22 percent. According to the government, this reduction in tomato prices has come down due to increased supply. Due to the decrease in the price of tomato in the market, the retail price is also coming down. On Sunday, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs said that the all-India average retail price of tomato on November 14 was Rs 52.35 per kg. This is 22.4 percent less than Rs 67.50 per kg on October 14. During the same period, due to increase in the arrival of tomatoes, prices in Azadpur Mandi fell by about 50 percent from Rs 5,883 per quintal to Rs 2,969 per quintal. Similar reduction in market prices has also been reported from benchmark markets like Pimpalgaon, Madanpalle and Kolar.
According to the estimate of the Department of Agriculture, the total annual production of tomato in 2023-24 is 213.20 lakh tonnes. This is 4 per cent higher than 204.25 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. Although tomato is produced throughout the year, there is seasonal variation in production areas and production volumes. Adverse weather conditions and even minor supply disruptions have a huge impact on tomato prices. The surge in tomato prices in October was due to excessive and prolonged rains in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The normal seasonal effect in tomato production in different regions of India shows that sowing takes place in October and November in major tomato producing states. However, due to the short duration of crop cultivation and multiple picking of tomato crop, there is a continuous availability of tomato in the market.
According to the central government, there has been a decrease in arrivals at major tomato centers of Madanappal and Kolar, but prices have come down due to seasonal arrivals from states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. These seasonal arrivals are meeting the supply shortage of tomatoes across the country. So far the weather has also been favorable for the crop.
