MYSURU: From the swoon-inducing heights of Rs 180 to Rs 200 a kg just a few weeks ago, the soaring prices of tomatoes have begun to see a significant decline, offering relief to household budgets while disappointing farmers.
Resembling a culinary roller coaster, tomato prices have tumbled to Rs 14 a kg at the Mysuru APMC on Sunday, down from Rs 20 on Saturday. In Bengaluru, the retail price ranged between Rs 30 and Rs 35 a kilo on Sunday.
This drop in prices is being attributed to reduced demand in northern states, primarily due to the import of tomatoes from Nepal. Officials expect further reductions, with prices possibly ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 5 a kg in the wholesale market. MR Kumaraswamy, the secretary of Mysuru APMC, said the substantial surplus supply of tomatoes has played a pivotal role in driving down prices. He noted that the APMC receives around 40 quintals of tomatoes on a regular basis.
Immavu Raghu, general secretary of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, has called upon the government to intervene and stabilise tomato and other vegetable prices. He said the cost of production for each kg of tomatoes is around Rs 10-12, with an additional Rs 3 needed for packaging and transport. “If farmers receive only Rs 14 a kg, they could incur significant losses. There is an urgent need for a new mechanism to handle the procurement, packaging, storage, and sale of vegetables.”





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