Tomato turns red hot again, prices cross Rs. 100 a kg across Telangana

It is not just tomatoes, but prices of other vegetables, including onions and of essential commodities are on the rise across the State.

Medak/Mancherial/Khammam: Tomatoes are turning red hot once again. Prices of the fruit, which saw some farmers turning crorepatis last year in June-July, are beginning to shoot through the roof again, with a kilo of tomato being sold at Rs.100 in Zaheerabad on Monday. The price in erstwhile Karimnagar is almost on the same lines, while that in Khammam is inching towards Rs.100, with a kilo of tomato now being sold at Rs.80 on Sunday.

It is not just tomato, but prices of other vegetables, including onions and of essential commodities are on the rise across the State. In erstwhile Medak district, the price of tomato, which was sold at Rs.30 in the first week of June, went up to Rs.80 to Rs.100 in different vegetable markets. The vegetable, which is an essential item in Telangana’s kitchens, was sold at Rs.100 in Zaheerabad.

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Usually, markets in Sangareddy, Siddipet and Medak districts get tomatoes from local farmers, and also from the Bowenpally market in Hyderabad and Vantimamidi in Siddipet district. However, the quantity of tomatoes coming to the markets here has come down compared to previous months. Meanwhile, the price of onions, which was sold at Rs.20 to Rs.25 a kg a fortnight ago, is now Rs.50 to Rs.60 kg while the prices of ridge gourd is also hovering at Rs.80 to Rs.100 a kg, reportedly fuelled by the short supply in the market.

The price of cluster beans has also touched Rs.80 a kg in erstwhile Medak. Prices of the green chilli have shot up from Rs.80 a kg to Rs.120 a kg within a couple of weeks. The prices of leafy vegetables including coriander and mint have also gone up.

K Padmini, a homemaker in Sangareddy, said she could not get enough vegetables even after spending Rs.600 in the market because prices of all vegetables have gone up.

Tomato gets costlier in Karimnagar too

In Karimnagar too, tomato is being sold at Rs.100 a kg after a jump of Rs.20 within one day. The fruit was available at Rs.80 per kg on Monday, but became costlier by another Rs.20 on Tuesday. Usually, tomatoes are sold here at Rs.20 to Rs.40 a kg. It had gradually increased during the last few weeks and scaled up to Rs.80 by last week. Non-availability of local crops is being cited as the main reason for the spurt in prices. Vegetable orchards in the district were demanded due to hailstorms and unseasonal rains, which were followed by extreme high temperatures, all of which are said to have affected the yield.

Traders are bringing in tomatoes from Chittoor and Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh and Aurangabad of Maharashtra. In erstwhile Karimnagar, beans is being sold at Rs.160 per kg, while kidney beans are available at Rs.120 a kg followed by bitter gourd and ridge gourd at Rs.100 and brinjal at Rs.80. Okra was being sold at Rs 60 per kg.

Speaking to Telangana Today, a private employee, M Janardhan said that they have reduced the quantity of tomato in the preparation of curries. Besides other vegetables, he usually purchases a kilogram of tomato. However, the quantity has reduced to half kg, he said.

A retail vegetable vendor, Kanakaiah said customers were disappointed with the rising prices of tomato. Customers, who used to purchase more than one kg, were buying only half kg. Some were completely avoiding tomatoes, said the native of Thimmapur, who sells veggies at the Rythu Bazaar here.

Vegetables imported in Mancherial

In Mancherial, vegetables are being imported from Madhya Pradesh to overcome a severe shortage in the district, resulting in a surge in prices. Prices of vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, green chilli, ridge gourd, etc., soared in the district. Tomatoes are priced Rs.60 per kg as against Rs.30 per kg sold a week ago in Mancherial. Rate of onions has gone up from Rs.30 per kg to Rs.100 per kg. Prices of ginger and garlic have also shot up.

The inflation is being attributed to a dip in supply of vegetables from local farmers from Bellampalli, Luxettipet and other parts of the district and the neighbouring Maharashtra.

Traders said they were now forced to import vegetables from Madhya Pradesh and other northern States considering the shortage. They predicted that the situation would continue for a month or two. The prices would come down only when local farmers supply vegetables to the market, they said.

In erstwhile Khammam district, vegetables such as tomatoes, okra, green chillies, potatoes and others, which were sold for Rs.20 to Rs.30 per kilogram until 10 days ago, are now being sold at Rs.70 to Rs.80 per kg. Tomatoes are being sold at Rs.80 per kg while okra and green chilli are sold at Rs.70 while leafy vegetables like spinach and coriander have also become expensive. A bunch of coriander leaves which was sold at Rs.10 to Rs.20 is now being sold at Rs.60 per bunch. Onions are sold at Rs.60 per kg.