New Delhi: The prices of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes have been causing significant distress to consumers recently, with the high costs bringing tears to many eyes. The surge in prices, attributed to extreme heat followed by heavy rains, is expected to ease soon, according to government officials. Increased supply from southern states is anticipated to stabilize the market, bringing much-needed relief to the public.
Government data reveals that retail tomato prices have soared to Rs 75 per kg in Delhi, Rs 83 per kg in Mumbai, and Rs 80 per kg in Kolkata. The price hike has been driven by supply issues. Officials from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs report that the scorching heat and excessive rains have severely disrupted the supply chain, leading to unmanageable price increases.
On July 12, the average retail price of tomatoes was Rs 65.21 per kg, compared to Rs 53.36 per kg the previous year. Currently, tomatoes in Delhi are sourced from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The situation is expected to improve with the arrival of hybrid tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. However, the government has decided not to reintroduce subsidized tomato sales, a measure previously implemented when prices soared to Rs 110 per kg last year.
Regarding potatoes, an official stated that the country currently has 283 lakh tonnes in storage, sufficient to meet domestic demand despite a slight decrease in production from last year. Meanwhile, onion prices have started to drop in Maharashtra’s wholesale markets, and the rates are expected to decrease further with the arrival of the new crop in September. In Delhi, potatoes are being sold at Rs 40 per kg, while onions are priced at Rs 57 per kg.
The recent spike in vegetable prices has also impacted the overall retail inflation, which climbed to a four-month high of 5.08 percent in June. The government remains hopeful that the improving supply conditions will soon lead to a reduction in the prices of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes, alleviating the financial burden on consumers.
Comments are closed.