Tomato prices have been soaring in North India, causing many people to cut back on consumption. Ajay Fauji, a vegetable vendor in Varanasi, has even hired bouncers to protect his tomatoes from violence and theft. He said that the tomatoes were selling for Rs. 160 per kg and customers were only buying small quantities. In Delhi markets, tomatoes are being sold for Rs 129 per kg, and in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, they are being sold for Rs 150 per kg. The price of tomatoes has also increased in Jharkhand.
According to official data, retail tomato prices have reached Rs 155 per kg in major cities due to disruptions in supply caused by rainfall. In metros, prices range from Rs 58-148 per kg, with Kolkata having the highest price at Rs 148 per kg and Mumbai having the lowest at Rs 58 per kg. The wholesale price of tomatoes in Chennai has also doubled from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 80-90 per kg.
The increase in tomato prices is a result of heavy rainfall in southern states, which has affected vegetable production. The government attributes the higher prices to a lean production season when monsoon rains disrupt transport and distribution.
