Severe Heatwave Makes Tomatoes 400 percent Costlier This Year

In Rajasthan and Gujarat, extreme heat has harmed tomato production, sending prices for the household staple skyrocketing.

Tomato costs are about 400 percent higher this summer than in prior years, according to wholesale and retail vegetable sellers, putting a strain on middle-class families' budgets. New crops from western and central Uttar Pradesh, as well as sections of Haryana, have begun to enter the city, and sellers say prices will soon begin to fall.

Tomato arrivals have plummeted by over one-third, according to vegetable traders in Azadpur, Asia's largest vegetable and fruit mandi, and Ghazipur, resulting in a major price spike. Tomatoes were selling for between Rs 4 and Rs 7 per kg in Azadpur, Ghazipur, and Okhla mandi in 2020 and 2021. However, prices rose to Rs 42-45 per kg earlier this month and are now hovering at Rs 28-32 per kg this year.

Tomatoes are selling for Rs 65-80 per kg in the retail market this year, compared to around Rs 12-18 per kg in May 2020 and 2021.

"Total tomato arrival in Delhi is usually about 400-450 tonnes, but it has suddenly dropped to fewer than 150 tonnes, resulting in a sharp price increase," Vegetable Traders' Association general secretary Anil Malhotra said.

He also stated that Delhi has begun receiving tomatoes from Amroha and its surrounding areas in Uttar Pradesh, as well as Ladwa in Haryana, and that costs are gradually decreasing. "However, in July, when we exclusively get tomatoes from Himachal Pradesh, we may see another spike in their pricing." However, it will only last around 15 days until the fresh harvest from Bengaluru, Nashik, and Nagpur arrives," Malhotra said.

Another vegetable wholesaler, Ramkishan Jindal, claimed that owing to bumper production, tomato farmers will lose money in 2020 and 2021. "Many farmers have planted less than half of what they did last year and have focused on other veggies this year." "Another cause for the shortage is the lack of supplies," Jindal explained.

Lemon prices have started to level off after breaking all records this year. Lemons are currently selling for Rs 135-160 per kg in the retail sector, down from Rs 280-300 earlier this month for the same quantity. "By the end of this month, it will be Rs 70-80 per kg," claimed Rashid Khan, a lemon vendor in Azadpur.