Hyderabad: The prices of tomatoes reached Rs 100 per kg in the retail market in Hyderabad, which is the highest across India.
While tomato is available at Rs 18 per kg in the wholesale market in Pune, it was being sold for Rs 53 in the Bowenpally wholesale market on Tuesday. Compared with other markets, the prices of vegetables are high in the city.
Ms R. Prathyusha, a customer at a super market at Shivam Road, said that the prices are troubling the common people. “Last week, tomatoes were being sold for '60 per kg and now it has risen to Rs 100. We can have half a kilo chicken in place of a kilo of tomato,” she said.
Though the recent rains were blamed for the skyrocketing prices, the holy month of Karthikam is also playing a role, as Hindus abstain from non-vegetarian food during this month.
P. Ramesh, estate officer of Erragadda Rythu Bazaar, said that there is a huge demand due to Karthikam. “The demand for tomatoes at Erragadda Rythu Bazaar is 2,700 quintals per day and we are receiving 200 quintals less due to the recent ra-ins. During normal days, 2,500 quintals can meet the demand,” he said.
K.R. Vijay Kumar, the estate officer of Mehdi-patnam Rythu Bazaar, said that less arrivals at the Bowenpally wholesale market has led to the hike in prices at the Rythu Bazaars and in retail markets.
“We fix the prices based on the wholesale market. Tomato arrivals to the wholesale market came down by 20 per cent due to shortfall in crops,” Mr Kumar said.
According to him, the prices of essential vegetables like brinjal, gourds, carrot, capsicum, drum stick, beans, green chillies, onions and lady fingers have rapidly increased in the last 15 days.
New crop arrivals set to end Farmers joy
Farmers from the outskirts, who supply tomatoes and other vegetables to the city market, are worried about the new arrivals to the city market, which will result in a fall in prices.
C. Shekar, a farmer from Maktaguda village in Shabad mandal near Shamshabad, said that due to the increase in prices of tomatoes and other vegetables, farmers are happy now. “Shortly, new arrivals will come to the city market and the prices will fall,” he said.
R. Chandraiah, a farm-er from Chevella who sells crops at Mehdi-patnam Rythu Bazaar, said that most of the farmers in Chevella did not collect the crops due to the heavy rains.
“During the rains it is hard to cut crops. Lack of labour and transport has also affected us,” he said.
