While the price of lemons is still barely partially relieved, the ever-rising graph of tomato prices has disrupted the middle-class budget. In the last two weeks alone, the price of tomatoes has more than doubled to over Rs 100 per kg. Experts believe that prices have risen due to a shortage of supply of tomatoes.
In the retail market in Ahmedabad, the price of tomatoes was around Rs 50 per kg earlier this year. Which has now crossed even the doubled amount of this price. Especially since the beginning of this month, the price of tomatoes has been steadily rising. At the end of last month, it cost around Rs 35 per kg.
According to experts, various factors are responsible for the rise in the prices of tomatoes. In large tomato-producing states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, the scorching heat has damaged the crop this time. The pre-monsoon rains in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, also caused severe damage to the tomato crop.
According to the first advance estimate released by the Ministry of Agriculture, 203 lakh tonnes of tomatoes could be produced in 2020-21, which is less than the 211 lakh tonnes in 2021-22. This time too much heat has a special effect on tomato production. The price of tomatoes is unlikely to get enough relief at present. Experts believe that the price of tomatoes may start declining from the first week of July as that is the time when the harvest will start again in Maharashtra. In addition, the situation may improve in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Also, lemons still cost more than Rs 100 per kg. The retail market in Ahmedabad costs more than Rs 120 per kg of lemons. The prices of lemons are expected to fall after the onset of the monsoon.
