Tomato prices have risen sharply, climbing nearly 50% in the last 10–15 days due to supply shortages caused by heavy rainfall in October. Government data shows retail prices have increased 25% to 100% across different states over the past month. Wholesale prices have also jumped, with Maharashtra seeing a 45% rise and Delhi, the main distribution hub for North India, recording a 26% increase.
Retail Price Trends
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs reported that the all-India average retail price of tomatoes rose from ₹36/kg on October 19 to ₹46/kg on November 19, marking a 27% increase. Chandigarh saw the steepest spike at 112%, while Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka experienced monthly rises of over 40%. High-quality tomatoes are now being sold at around ₹80/kg in many areas.
Reasons Behind the Price Hike
Traders attribute the rising prices to strong demand from the ongoing wedding season and upcoming year-end festivities. Supply disruptions from key tomato-producing states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have also contributed, with truck arrivals to the Azadpur market dropping by more than half in the past week.
Earlier, a sharp fall in tomato, onion, and potato prices had helped bring retail inflation down to 0.25% in October, its lowest since 2013. Tomato inflation was -42.9%, while onions and potatoes recorded -54.3% and -36.6% respectively. However, the recent supply shortage is reversing this trend.
Crop Damage Due to Rainfall
Excessive rainfall has damaged tomato crops in many regions, further tightening supply. Ashok Koshik, chairman of the Azadpur Tomato Traders Association, said, “Truck arrivals from Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat to the Azadpur market have dropped by more than half over the past week. Excessive rainfall has severely damaged crops in many regions.”
