Tomato prices in Pakistan have hit a record high, reaching Rs 400 (€2.32) per kg in a day. In the first week of November, the official retail rate of tomato was Rs117 per kg and Tuesday’s official price clearly indicated that the government itself was revising the price upward.
Traders said a box containing 13-14 kg of tomato was available at Rs 4,200-4,500 depending on the quality, thus forcing many traders to suspend purchasing. The government had last week issued a permit for importing 4,500 tonnes of tomato from Iran, but the arrival of the red fruit had yet to pick up pace in the market, resulting in a persistent hike in the rates in view of rising demand.
Of the 4,500 tonnes, only 989 tonnes had arrived in the country so far, a trader said, adding that he could not confirm whether more quantities arrived at the Taftan border on Tuesday.
Soon after the attack that killed over 40 CRPF personnel in February this year, farmers from Madhya Pradesh stopped exporting tomatoes to Pakistan. As a result, tomato prices sky-rocketed in the neighbouring country. Reports suggest that tomato exported from India fetch around three times the profit in Pakistan.
According to dailyexcelsior.com¸ Pakistan has already banned imports of tomato and potato from India for the last two years for fear of diseases.
[ Rs100 = €0,58 ]