That tomato soup or the steaming tomato rasam has just become a little beyond reach.
With the price of a kilogram of tomato hovering around Rs. 80 kg, tomato dishes may well be off the menu in many households in the city.
The wholesale price of tomato is around Rs. 55 to Rs. 60 a kg while the retail price ranges from Rs. 70 to Rs. 80 a kg. The price of tomato in HOPCOMS outlets is Rs. 70 a kg.
The prices have skyrocketed owing to shortage in supply, sources said and pointed out that in June, the price was around Rs. 20 to Rs. 25 per kilo.
Sources said that with rains arriving late in many tomato growing areas, the crops had failed.
The city usually gets around 500 tonnes every day. With crops failing and reduction in yield, the city is now getting just 200 tonnes a day.
Sources added that the city received very little stock from the Nagamangala and Mandya regions. Much of the stock that arrives in Bangalore is from Hoskote, Malur and Kolar areas.
“The tomato crop has failed in many other states as well due to insufficient rainfall. Buyers from Maharashtra, West Bengal and even neighbouring Bangladesh have been purchasing tomatoes directly from farmers in the Kolar market. With huge demand, the wholesale prices in the Kolar market shot up to Rs. 70 a kg on Monday,” the source said.
The price will continue to be in the range of Rs. 70 to Rs. 80 a kg for at least another fortnight.
“It is unlikely that the price will increase further, as it has reached the maximum,” the source added.
