Just weeks after farmers dumped their tomatoes due to unfavorable pricing, the cost of the product has again increased in wholesale and retail markets in the district. In retail markets, the cost of 1kg of tomatoes was Rs20-35. At the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC)- run Market Yard in Gultekdi, wholesale prices were Rs14-25 per kg on Wednesday. The increase in tomato prices comes after nearly six months.
Datta Kalamkar, head of the vegetable section of the Market Yard, said on Wednesday that the demand and supply equation has been disturbed. “We expect to see a further increase, at least over the next few days. The fresh harvest will not arrive soon,” Kalamkar told timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Some officials said there is a good demand for tomatoes as restaurants and food giants are operating at full capacity. “Household consumption is lower than commercial requirements. But tomatoes have good demand in the food industry; the prices will remain high range till the fresh harvest arrives in bulk,” said an APMC official.
[ Rs100 = €1.20 ]