Mumbai: On the tomato front, the outlook is far from abundantly rosy. With a dip in supply, prices of this kitchen staple have risen sharply in the last 10 days. Traders at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) say that there will be no respite for buyers in the days to come, as farmers will start planting afresh just before the monsoon.
In the last 10 days, both retail and wholesale prices of tomatoes have tripled. Currently, it is retailing at Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kg while the average buying price at the APMC for premium quality produce is Rs 45 per kg.
According to APMC traders, farmers remove old plants before the monsoon and start planting anew for a better yield. “Every year, during this period, there is a dip in supply and the prices start increasing. Since fresh arrivals will take time and the market will have less of the commodity, there is bound to be a price rise,” said Baban Pingle, a trader at APMC Vashi.
At present, around 15 to 17 vehicles, mostly tempos loaded with tomatoes, are arriving in the market, which is around 25 per cent below the normal supply. As per data shared by the APMC administration, on May 1, the market had received around 220 tonnes of tomatoes and this has now come down to around 155 tonnes, a dip of around 25 to 30 per cent. The Vashi APMC supplies essential commodities, including vegetables, to the MMR region. Mumbai, including Navi Mumbai, needs around 250 tonnes of tomatoes every day, and the majority of the demand is met from Nashik and Satara.
In November last year, the retail price had touched Rs 100 per kg in many parts of the city.
