Tomato Prices Surge all over India- Causes and Impact

The price of tomatoes doubled from ₹20 to ₹40 per kilogram in June, ruling at ₹100 kg in July, and is currently at ₹200 per kilogram in August. What has caused this sudden surge in tomato prices all around the country?

This article addresses the root of the problem and the reasons for the same.

Tomatoes play a vital role in almost every Indian household; it is known as the king of the Indian kitchen, and when their prices are skyrocketing, it disturbs the monthly budget of every Indian family. Recently, the prices of tomatoes have surged up to ₹150 to ₹200 per kilogram in the retail markets and experts don’t see a sign of ease in pricing. The exorbitant rate of tomatoes is attributed to multiple components: a combination of environmental, logistical, and market factors.

India grows two crops of tomatoes, Rabi crop, grown in Junnar Taluka of Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the supply of which comes into the market between March and August, and the Kharif crop, grown in Uttar Pradesh and Nashik that comes into the market during the rest of the year. These places are the major suppliers of tomatoes in the country.

The responsibility lies in various factors, including monsoons, inadequate production, and extreme heat. The first batch is planted in the month of January-March, which results in the first batch of produce during April-June. However, the harvest was affected this year by the sudden heat, which led to pest attacks on tomato crops, resulting in lower produce and higher market rates. The leaf viruses led to such havoc in Karnataka and Maharashtra that the local Agriculture produce market Committee which received nearly 5.50 lakh quintals of tomatoes in June last year has got just 3.2 lakh quintals this year. 

Then came the unseasonal rainfall in May which disrupted the supply of tomatoes from the producing states where the harvesting and transportation process were adversely affected. This led to scarcity in the quantity of tomatoes, and the high demand led the prices to shoot up.

There have been quite a few predictions on the price of tomatoes in the next few months, some say it will shoot up even further while some say the new Kharif crop, once pushed into the market, will bring down the price. The fact of the matter is that with such matters nothing can be proved since these things are unpredictable. This underscores the complexity of agricultural challenges and their far-reaching consequences. To address this issue, a comprehensive approach involving technological advancements, improved infrastructure, and market transparency is crucial. By fostering a stable and transparent tomato market, India can better ensure food security, stabilise consumer prices, and support the livelihoods of both farmers and consumers.