Hyderabad: The humble tomato, almost a staple, is suddenly competing with the price of petrol. The price of a kilogram of tomato crossed the Rs 100 mark on Tuesday, and threatens to stay at that level for some time. Even at that sum, getting a bag of good quality tomatoes was difficult.
The serial heat waves and lack of rain caused by Cyclone Biporjoy adversely affected the tomato crop in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other states. Tomato crop yield also decreased in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
This resulted in a tomato shortage as well as high prices. But because it is such a kitchen essential, families reluctantly paid the price that was being demanded.
M. Bhaskar Rao, a GHMC pensioner, said that quality tomatoes are not available in the market even if they were ready to pay Rs 100 per kg. “In view of the high price, I purchased only half a kg,” he said. “There is no mechanism to monitor the vegetable prices as per the demand and supply.”
Usually, tomatoes from Madanapalle in Chittoor district and Karnataka cater the needs of markets of Telangana state, along with locally cultivated crop. However, in Telangana, the tomato crop season has concluded and that added to the shortage.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, retail vegetable vendor M. Renuka in Monda Market said that they were forced to pay Rs 2,000 for a 25-kg box of tomatoes. “We used to purchase it for Rs 200- 300 each,” she said.
But, given the high price, the sales were poor. We purchased 10 boxes and only three got sold,” she explained.
Anjali, a housewife from Padmaraonagar, said that she had purchased only half kg of tomatoes due to its high prices. Some vendors were charging Rs. 120 per kg of tomatoes, but its quality was poor, she said.
