Poor yield, high demand push chilli and tomato prices up in Kurnool

KURNOOL: The increase in prices of tomato and green chilli has upset the common people. While these vegetables are commonly used in daily recipes, many are not able to afford them now.

The price of green chill has increased due to poor crop yield and the scorching sun. The price escalated to around ₹120 per kg, compared to ₹30 a kg in January. Traders predict the prices will remain high till July end.

Two varieties of chilli are available, with the fat-less-green ones being priced higher than the thin ones. Currently, the price of fat green chilli is ₹120-130, while the locally available thin variety costs ₹120 per kg.

The price of green chilli was about₹30 in January, ₹40 in February, ₹45 in March, ₹ 50 in April, ‘ 60 in May and it reached ₹ 120-130 in June.

Similarly, tomato prices were ₹ 10-15 in January, ₹15-20 in March, ₹ 30-40 in May and these have now exceeded ₹100 in the wholesale market in June.

K Janaki from the Y-Junction area on Bellary Road expressed the difficulties faced by the locals due to the high prices and limited availability of green chillies and tomatoes. She said the local recipes often required a significant quantity of these ingredients.

Janaki emphasized that recipes such as Sorghum rotis (Jonna Rotte) cannot be imagined without the addition of chillies and tomatoes. She lamented that the prices of dry chillies are also skyrocketing.

The traders are selling chillies for around ₹ 85-90 per kg, while they are purchasing them from farmers at around ₹ 75-80 per kg.

The wholesale price of chillies in the Nandyal market and Prodduturu market in the nearby Kadapa district was ₹ 90 per kg. The sudden increase in prices is attributed to the lower crop yield. The soaring prices are expected to remain so until the local crop yield improves.

Tomatoes are primarily cultivated in Pathikonda, Peapully, Tuggali and Aspari. Green chillies are mainly produced in Pagidyala and Jupadu Bungalow. Pathikonda has the highest concentration of vegetable crops, followed by Dornipadu and Devanakonda.

MD Ghulam from the main Rythu bazar of Kurnool city said, “To meet the demand for chillies and tomatoes, we are now sourcing these from districts such as Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Bengaluru. The availability of chillies and tomatoes in Kurnool and Nandyal is limited due to the prevailing weather conditions, he said.

• Green chilli priced at ₹120-130 per kg in local markets in the city
• Prices of tomatoes are also touching ₹ 100 per kg