Pune Market Sees Surge In Tomato Prices Due To Low Supply
Tomato Prices In Pune Plummet In Wholesale Markets, Farmers Struggle With Losses
The price of tomatoes has seen a notable increase in both wholesale and retail markets over the past few days due to a significant reduction in supply. Recently, at the Narayangaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) market, a crate of 20 kg tomatoes was sold for between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500—marking the highest prices of the season thus far. A similar upward trend has been observed in Pune’s wholesale market.
The escalation in prices is attributed to a drop in supply caused by various diseases, including blight, which have affected plantations over the last two months. This reduction in harvest has significantly limited availability, leading to the current price hikes, according to APMC officials.
“The supply has dropped to 5,000 crates compared to the average of 15,000 to 20,000 crates over the past two weeks, as a result, costs have increased. This season, a crate was sold for the first time for Rs 1,700. New arrivals are only expected in the second week of August.” stated a market committee member from Narayangaon market. He added that the current circumstances are causing tomato growers to suffer lower profits. According to officials, Junnar and some tehsils in Beed and Ahmednagar districts are currently the biggest suppliers of tomatoes despite having limited plantations.
According to Pune’s Gultekdi Market Yard commission agent, “Rates are likely to increase further given the current supply situation. Because they are used so widely in households, hotels, restaurants, and other eating establishments, tomatoes and onions are still in great demand.”
Until fresh product is available, APMC authorities have not ruled out the prospect of additional price increases in the upcoming weeks. Retailers claim that depending on size and color, tomatoes are typically offered in city retail markets for between Rs 80 and Rs 120 per kilogram.
