Tomato prices fall to Rs 3 per kg, forcing farmers to throw away crops

New Delhi: Prices of potatoes and tomatoes have plummeted due to higher revenue and limited demand in the wholesale markets, falling below the January 2021 high of 50 per cent. Today, the price of a kg of tomato in Delhi fell by three to five rupees. So the price of potato was also quoted at seven to nine rupees per kg.

Prices of both the vegetables are likely to fall further in the coming days. The state government does not have time to address this issue.

Tomato exports from India to Pakistan have been closed for the last three years. Lasangaon APMC chairman Suvarna Jagtap has demanded the central government to expedite the export of tomatoes, which could help in the form of support prices.

Ashok Koshik Ganore, president of the Tomato Traders Association, Azadpur, said, "Currently, tomatoes arriving in Delhi or other cities, which are far from productive areas, are not in good condition.

Earlier the crop was affected due to heavy rains and now it has suddenly become so bad that it cannot remain in good condition during transportation. We cannot send enough goods to Jammu or Haryana. Potatoes have the same condition as tomatoes.

Instead of more crops and weaker demand, prices have fallen every month to 50 per cent below the current 2020 level. "There is a huge amount in cold storage, while the next crop is expected to be a bumper," said a trader from Delhi's Azadpuri Mandi. Farmers have increased the area under cultivation as the price of seeds has remained low. There is no demand for potatoes in the market due to the sharp fall in prices.