Hyderabad: Providing a much-needed respite to the common populace, the exorbitant prices of tomatoes, which had soared to an unprecedented Rs 200 per kg in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, have finally begun to decline. The arrival of the new tomato harvest from various production regions across the country has contributed to this welcome shift. In the city of Hyderabad, tomatoes are now being sold at Rs 63 per kg in the Rythu Bazars, the local farmers’ markets.
As of Tuesday, the retail markets have recorded tomato prices ranging between Rs 120 and Rs 140 per kg, marking a significant drop from the earlier staggering rates. Officials from the agriculture and marketing departments pointed out that the recent influx of tomatoes from Anantapur and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, as well as from Karnataka, has substantially bolstered the tomato supply in Hyderabad over the past few days.
Anticipating a further decline, an agriculture and marketing department representative stated, “We are hopeful that the tomato prices will dip below Rs 50 per kg by the end of August, as the supply from various tomato-producing regions fully saturates the market.” Contributing to this price shift are also tomatoes from Ranga Reddy, Vikarabad, Chevella, Nawabpet, and Medak districts.
The price trend echoes in Andhra Pradesh as well, where the tomato prices have subsided from Rs 100 to Rs 65 per kg. Despite the relief for consumers, farmers have expressed their concerns regarding the plunge in prices, a phenomenon that had turned several farmers into unexpected beneficiaries over the past few months.
Despite the local market’s price drop, a surge in demand for tomato exports to neighboring states has been noted. At Madanapalle, which boasts Asia’s largest tomato market, the wholesale price of tomatoes stood at Rs 128 per kg on Tuesday. T Abilash, Secretary of Madanapalle Tomato Market Yard, revealed that around 258 Metric Tonnes (MT) of produce was received on Tuesday. First-grade tomatoes fetched prices ranging between Rs 110 and Rs 128 per kg, while the second-grade variety was sold between Rs 94 and Rs 109 per kg in the bustling market.
