Heavy monsoon rains have disrupted supply chains in parts of the country, resulting in a hike in tomato prices in Delhi and other metro cities.
Tomato prices in Delhi and other cities are likely to ease in the coming weeks as supply improves from southern states provided the supply chains are not disrupted by heavy rains, officials said on Saturday. Speaking to news agency PTI on the condition of anonymity, a consumer affairs ministry official said the prices of potato and onion, which had also soared due to supply disruptions, are expected to stabilize in coming days.
“Prices of tomato, potato and onion are ruling high in Delhi and some other cities. Extreme heat followed by spells of excess rainfall disrupted supplies, causing a spike in prices in consuming areas,” the official said.
Prices likely to normalize within 1-2 weeks
The retail prices of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes surged in Delhi and other metro cities as heavy rainfall disrupted supply chains, resulting in a price hike.
“The prices are expected to normalize within 1-2 weeks as supplies improve from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka,” he said.
Asked about a possible shortage of potatoes, the official noted that India has 283 lakh tonne of stored potato, sufficient to meet domestic demand despite lower production compared to the previous year. He further said that onion prices, hich have eased in Maharashtra’s wholesale markets, are expected to decline further with the arrival of the new crop in September.
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Supply chains disrupted due to heavy rainfall
Heavy monsoon rains have disrupted supply chains in parts of the country, resulting in the price hikes of tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and green vegetables in metro cities.
As per the ministry data, retail tomato price in Delhi was Rs 75/kg on July 12, down from Rs 150/kg in the year-ago period. In Mumbai, the price was Rs 83/kg, while Kolkata reported it at Rs 80/kg.
The all-India average retail price of tomato stood at Rs 65.21/kg on July 12, compared to Rs 53.36/kg last year.
To offset the demand, Delhi is currently receiving tomato supplies from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. However, the official said that the prices are expected to stabilize soon as tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka reach the national capital in coming weeks.
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Officials have clarified that the government does not plan to reintroduce subsidized tomato sales, a measure implemented last year when the price exceeded Rs 110 per kg.
