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Description

Description: Discover the reasons behind the recent surge in tomato prices, including crop drop, delayed monsoons, and production challenges. Learn how various factors are impacting tomato supply and pricing.

Why tomato prices are rising?

The prices of tomatoes have reached Rs 100 per kg and more in many major cities across the country.

India grows two major crops of tomato. The rabi crop, which is grown mainly in the Junnar taluka of Maharashtra and in parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, comes to the market between March and August. After August, the market is supplied by the kharif crop in Uttar Pradesh, Nashik in Maharashtra, and elsewhere in the country.

Reason:

· There was recent drop in Tomato prices, at the Narayangaon wholesale market in Junnar taluka of Pune district, the average price in March was Rs 5-10/kg, and in April it was around Rs 5-15/kg. In May, farmers were forced to sell for between Rs 2.50-5/kg. So farmers. Hence, farmers shifted to other crop. Reportedly, as per the government data, tomato production is estimated to fall slightly to 20.62 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 20.69 million tonnes in the previous year.

· Further delayed monsoons, high temperatures, and low production might be behind the increase in prices of tomatoes recently.

· The tomato plants that were on the ground have been damaged during the recent rainfall. Only the plants that grow vertically with the support of wires were saved.

· The other reason for less production is said to be the less usage of pesticides and fertilisers by farmers" as the rates were not remunerative".