Hyderabad: Prices of tomatoes continued to soar across Telangana with cost per kg at Rs 80-90 at retail supermarkets in Secunderabad. Tomatoes were sold at Rs 100 in Nizamabad, Zaheerabad districts. Similar price points were observed in Karimnagar district while in Khammam it was being sold at Rs 84.
However, it is not just tomatoes, prices of onions. potatoes and other vegetables are also on the rise. Green chillies were sold at Rs 100-120 per kg and others are costing above Rs 50 per kg.
Quantity of tomatoes in markets plummet:
The quantity of tomatoes arriving at markets has generally plummeted when compared to previous months. Notably, arrivals at various Rythu Bazaars have dropped from 126 tonnes in May to 81 tonnes in June. The price rise is fuelled by supply shortages in the market.
Officials said that tomatoes were being sourced from Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh and Bengaluru in Karnataka while green chillies are being sourced from Madhya Pradesh.
Traders opine that the rise in prices may continue till the end of July and the hike is being attributed to drop in production due to less rains and excessive heat.
Grade-1 tomatoes are being sold at Rs 80/kg while grade-2 tomatoes are sold at Rs 50/kg, Mohammed Azam, a vegetable seller was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
In districts such as Medak, Siddipet, Vikarabad, standing crops were damaged, also leading to the price rise. Last year, during a similar surge in prices of tomato, many farmers raked in big money.
A trader at Gudimalkapur market, Ketha Venkateswar Rao said that the hike is seasonal and the onset of monsoon sends the prices up the situation will stay the same till the end of July.
Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department said that the country has received twenty percent less rainfall since the start of the monsoon period on June 1 and downgraded the monsoon forecast to below normal.
Officials said that tomatoes were being sourced from Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh and Bengaluru in Karnataka while green chillies are being sourced from Madhya Pradesh. Telangana States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
