Tomato prices shoot up again in Karimnagar

Twenty days ago, one kg of tomato was sold at Rs.30 to Rs.40 and it shot up to Rs.60 a week ago. Within the last few days, it has gone up to Rs.100.

Karimnagar: Tomato, a favorite item for the common man in most dishes, has become more precious. A kilogram of tomato is being sold at Rs.100 in the market here. The last two days saw a price jump of Rs.20. from Rs 80 per kg on Thursday to Rs.100 on Saturday.

Twenty days ago, one kg of tomato was sold at Rs.30 to Rs.40 and it shot up to Rs.60 a week ago. Within the last few days, it has gone up to Rs.100.

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Besides local crops, traders here bring tomatoes from Madanapalle and Kalyanadurg of Andhra Pradesh and Aurangabad of Maharashtra.

There is a shortage due to the damage caused on tomato orchards following the recent floods in Andhra Pradesh. At the same time, local crops were also damaged due to the recent rains.

In AP, a 22 kg tomato box is being sold at Rs.1,550 (Rs.70 per kg). Including transportation and other charges, a kilo of tomato is being sold at Rs.80 in the wholesale market while retail traders are selling at Rs.100.

Speaking to Telangana Today, an internet centre owner, Bhaskar, said they had reduced the quantity of tomato in the preparation of curries. Besides other vegetables, he usually purchases a kilogram of tomato. However, the quantity has been cut down to half kg, he said.

A retail vegetable vendor, Sridhar said that though there was no problem for government employees and rich people, poor people were facing troubles with spurt in the price of vegetables. Customers, who used to purchase more than one kg, were buying only half kg. Some of the people were completely avoiding tomatoes, he said.

Similar is the price of onion, which is being sold at Rs.80 per kilogram. Two weeks ago, one kilo of onions was available at Rs.50 to Rs.60. However, it rose to Rs.80 and was expected to reach Rs 100 soon.