Tomato prices in India have soared and brought eightfold profit to farmers, one of whom has earned over Rs 2 crore amid a food crisis in the country due to a shortage of the fruit.
However, this windfall gain could be short-lived due to the expected increased supply in the coming weeks.
Data from the Indian Food Ministry showed that retail prices of tomatoes in the capital New Delhi have risen to Rs 178 per kg, a significant increase of 700% since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, the national average was around Rs 120 on that day.
Tomato supplies have been disrupted due to heavy rains in the country, raising concerns among consumers, who have temporarily reduced purchases of tomatoes, a key ingredient in Indian cuisine.
However, tomato growers are happy with this extraordinary situation. Farmer Ishwar Gaykar and his wife Sonali grow tomatoes on 12 acres of land in Maharashtra.
During this price rise trend, they have seen their profits increase to Rs 24 million in the current season. Last year, he earned only Rs 1.5 million.
The couple has now become the biggest tomato supplier in their area, while Ishwar has gained a celebrity status locally, with the media seeking his interviews.
Around 350 tonnes of tomatoes have been supplied by the husband-wife duo in recent weeks, while barring adverse weather conditions, they expect to sell another 150 tonnes.
“About a month and a half ago, the price of tomato was barely Rs 2.5 per kg. The supply is short, while the demand remains strong,” said Ishwar. Ishwar incurred a loss of Rs 2 million during the same season in 2021.
The couple has three crops a year, while their current crop is about 120 to 140 days old.
Tomato supplies in India have been badly affected due to disruption in transport due to heavy monsoon rains and floods in some areas. Meanwhile, there is a possibility of increasing inflation in the country because the prices of other vegetables have also increased.
To address this problem, the Government of India has started selling tomatoes at subsidized rates through mobile vans at various locations. While this has had some effect, prices remain prohibitively high for consumers in the country of 1.4 billion people.
Mahendra Nikam, another farmer, said, “I have never seen such a high price for my produce. Less than two months ago, farmers were literally forced to throw away tomatoes or feed the fruit-bearing plants to cattle. ” per kg in Surat.
