Supply chain breaking tomatoes 7 times more expensive in 3 weeks! Despite the production of 163 lakh tonnes per annum

Imports from other states, loss of perishable goods in monsoons, consumer share Tomatoes from Bangalore-Maharashtra, Coriander from Indore, Flowers from Simla, Peas Imports, Local income falling Profiteers active: Due to falling crude oil prices, keeping diesel prices unbearably high, the public is burdened with the cost of transporting vegetables.

Rajkot, : Tomato production in India is 163 lakh tonnes per annum, out of which Gujarat produces 14.50 lakh tonnes per annum, yet tomato prices have increased by 700 per cent in just three weeks as the tomato supply chain breaks down and profiteers become active. In Rajkot yard, the price of Rs.200-400 per 20 kg in the first week of June has reached Rs.1100-1400 today, i.e. seven times.

According to details received from traders and yard sources, the local income of tomatoes has almost stopped during the monsoon, so they have to be imported from Bangalore and Maharashtra. The tomato has to travel a long distance to reach the people and due to the policies of the Center and the government oil companies, diesel has been kept expensive despite the cheapening of crude oil, so the cost per kg of the vegetable in Gujarat is high. Meanwhile, if it spoils in the current hot-humid climate, the cost of perishable goods is added to the remaining tomatoes to determine the price. Thus, the loss of perishable goods falls on the housewives buying tomatoes from the fairia as a result of which tomatoes have gone down to Rs.80 per kg.

Not only tomatoes in the yard, other vegetables from abroad have also become expensive. Like only ten-fifteen percent of coriander is locally sourced, the rest is imported from Indore. Its price has reached Rs.1500-2000. In the same way, the price of green peas, which are used in sandwiches, patties and vegetables at home, have increased to Rs.1200-1400.

Local supply has been affected by waterlogging of fields in the monsoon. Currently, the price of fenugreek used in bhajiya-pakoda is Rs. 1400-1900 then the price of guar is Rs. 500-1000 has been reached. The price of ginger has become equal to sesame which was traded at the price of Rs.2800-3200 today. This price is wholesale, when it reaches the merchant, from there to the faira, a hefty profit, commission is added to it, and the housewives are shocked to find these vegetables in the retail market at double to triple the price of the yard.

In Gujarat, 2.60 lakh hectares of vegetables are cultivated in monsoon season and mabalkh is produced. This year too, enthusiasm has been seen in vegetable cultivation. According to yard sources, the vegetable market is likely to remain volatile until these goods come in the market, i.e. till the end of monsoon.