Tirupati: Households grappling with soaring tomato prices can breathe a sigh of relief. The market dynamics took a favourable turn at the start of this week.
The exorbitant prices for tomatoes, which reached upto Rs 250 to Rs 300 per kilo in recent weeks, began showing signs of decline with the arrival of Kharif crop into the markets. Reports on Monday indicated a significant dip in prices to a tolerable Rs 50 to Rs 100 per kilo, depending on the variety and quality.
Unfavourable weather conditions and supply chain disruptions were the reasons for the sharp price spiral in recent weeks. Market analysts are optimistic about the prospect of a further fall in the prices in the coming days.
Officials from the horticulture department have affirmed the positive impact of the Kharif crop's arrival in markets like Madanapalle, which had seen a decrease in daily arrivals to 300mt from the usual 800-900mt last month. The market started receiving nearly 500mt of tomatoes. On Monday, prices were reported between Rs 76 and Rs 136 per kg.
Significant price reductions have also been noted in other markets, including in Kakinada and East Godavari districts. In Rajamahendravaram and Kovvur markets, Grade-1 quality tomatoes are now selling at Rs 100 per kilo, down by Rs 60 to Rs 70. Medium quality tomatoes in the Kakinada market are selling at Rs 50 per kilo, reflecting a decrease of Rs 20 per kilo.
Marketing officials predict a dip to Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg in the coming days. Additionally, imports of 50 metric tonnes of tomatoes to East Godavari district have contributed to a stabilising of the prices at Rs 100 per kg for Grade-1 quality products, said Sunil Vinay, assistant director of the Marketing department.
Currently, tomatoes are available in the price range of Rs 50 to Rs 100 per kg at the Kurnool Rythu Bazaar. Most other vegetables are now priced between Rs 30 and Rs 60 per kg.
K. Govind, selection grade secretary of Kurnool Market Yard, expressed optimism about the price fall for tomatoes. "Traders normally get 3,000-4,000 boxes of tomatoes the city needs daily when prices are reasonable. But they were getting only limited stocks in recent weeks. Now, the crop is in an advanced stage and we are expecting the crop to reach the markets this month itself."
In Visakhapatnam’s posh Seethammadhara area, the price of the fruit vegetable, at Rs 150 to Rs 160 last week, came down to Rs 100 per kg. Three days ago, a long queue was seen in front of Gopalapatnam Rythu Bazaar, cited as the longest such queue ever in the state. There was a mild lathi charge when some women clashed over an issue of jumping the queue.
However, the fall in tomato prices brought a sigh of relief to the consumers. “We sold non-subsidised tomatoes for Rs 90 per kilo on Monday, while subsidised tomatoes at Rs 50 a kg”, said Falguna, who runs a stall in Rythu Bazaar near III Town police station.
Visakhapatnam has 13 Rythu bazaars and around 30 tonnes of tomatoes are being sold every day, said assistant director of the Marketing department Yashin. He said the Ananda Puram area on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam started harvesting tomatoes. “The prices fell because tomatoes from Ananda Puram started coming to the city”, he added.
In Vijayawada, the price of tomatoes has come down to Rs 80 per kg from the highest of Rs 150 per kg a week ago.
The marketing authorities say that as the tomatoes are now being brought from parts of Anantapur and Chittoor districts and also from Bengaluru, the price has come down.
In Guntur district, tomato price came down to Rs 80 from the highest of Rs 120 a few days ago.
Prices of other vegetables are also witnessing a slight dip by five to eight rupees per kg as the farmers are bringing new stocks from the fields to the market. Green chilly which used to cost Rs 100 per kg was now sold at Rs 80.
