Tomato price drops to Rs 14 per kg; Here is why the rate suddenly decreased

Mysuru: In a surprising turn of events, tomato prices have decreased from the staggering Rs 180 to Rs 200 per kilogram just a week ago to a mere Rs 14 per kilogram. This sharp decline is bringing relief to household budgets, yet simultaneously disappointing farmers who are grappling with the sudden drop.

Tomato prices had reached an astonishing range of Rs 180 to Rs 200 per kilogram only a few weeks back. However, the situation has taken a U-turn, with prices nosediving to Rs 14 per kilogram at the Mysuru APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) on Sunday. This reduction comes after they were priced at Rs 20 per kilogram on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, the retail price for tomatoes stood between Rs 30 and Rs 35 per kilogram on the same day.

This significant decline in prices is attributed to a reduced demand in northern states, primarily due to the import of tomatoes from Nepal. Experts anticipate further drops, speculating that prices might dip to a range of Rs 10 to Rs 5 per kilogram in the wholesale market. Kumaraswamy, the secretary of Mysuru APMC, while taking to TOI, highlighted the key role played by a surplus supply of tomatoes in driving down prices. The APMC has been receiving around 40 quintals of tomatoes regularly.

Immavu Raghu, the general secretary of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, has raised concerns and called for government intervention to stabilize tomato and other vegetable prices. Raghu emphasized that the cost of producing one kilogram of tomatoes is approximately Rs 10-12, with an additional Rs 3 needed for packaging and transportation. With farmers receiving just Rs 14 per kilogram, they could potentially face significant losses. Raghu urged the implementation of a new mechanism to manage the procurement, packaging, storage, and sale of vegetables.