Mumbai: Tomato prices continued to be high on Friday, even as that of onions fell marginally at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Vashi. Traders said tomatoes cost ₹40 per kg due to shortage in supply, while onions were at ₹35 per kg. Rising prices of both vegetables over the past four weeks has inconvenienced both consumers and sellers alike, traders said.
Officials at the APMC said both crops were hit by unseasonal rain, pushing the wholesale prices of tomato to between ₹30 and ₹40 per kg, and to between ₹50 and ₹60 in retail outlets. Onion prices, too, went up, selling in retail for ₹50 to ₹60, depending on quality and location. With the onion crop severely hit in Karnataka, the neighbouring State is depending almost completely on supply from Nashik. Of the 300 trucks of onions entering Bengaluru APMC, over 250 are from Nashik.
Ashok Walunj, former director, onion and potato division, APMC, said supply has improved since Wednesday. “Around 245 trucks of onion arrived on Thursday and Friday, pushing prices down. “We’re expecting a fresh stock of onions on Monday. This will bring down the rates further. Within a week’s time, rates will regularise to ₹15 to ₹20.”
Tomato, which usually costs between ₹18 to ₹25 per kg, was being sold at ₹45 per kg at the APMC on Friday. Shankar Pingle, former director, vegetables division, APMC, said. “Usually, the tomato season starts by mid-October, bring prices down. This time, the tomato crop has been affected by rains in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh in September. During the same time last year, tomatoes cost ₹10 to ₹15 per kg.”
Anil Rai, who is among the top tomato dealers in the market, said, “On an average, 100 trucks would come to the APMC, each bearing 10 tonnes of tomatoes. This would be distributed across Mumbai Metropolitan Region. However, no supply at all from Karnataka has affected us the most. Whatever is coming to the market is from nearby districts including Nashik, Pune and Satara, but it isn’t enough.” As per APMC records, the vegetables division received around 40 vehicles of tomatoes on Friday.
Mr. Rai added that as the tomato crop cycle is of 90 days, farmers have sown again and this produce is expected in the next 15 to 20 days. “This will bring down rates further.”
