CHENNAI: THE spike in demand from the northern states has pushed tomato prices over the `100 mark in retail outlets in Chennai where supply has seen a sharp fall in recent days. The cost at the Koyambedu wholesale market itself was `90, with the price steadily increasing as traders from far-flung areas sauntered in to buy.
Traders reckon that the trend is likely to continue for some more months.
“In the markets of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka where the crop is usually auctioned, we have to offer higher procurement price because of competition from traders from North India,” M Thiagarajan, president, Koyambedu Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Sellers’ Welfare Association told Express.
The cost of tomato has gone up northern states, prompting more traders to visit Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, he added. This has led to a sharp fall in arrivals in Chennai which usually gets 800 tonnes of tomato a day. It has shrunk now to 400 tonnes.
Apart from the meagre quantity of tomato from Krishnagiri, which accounts for only about five per cent, the traders at Koyambedu pick up bulk of the produce from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
“We used to get tomatoes from Dindigul, Theni, North Arcot, Vellore, Dharmapuri, Kaveripattnam etc. But because of the failed monsoon and farmers not getting enough money for their produce, there is a scarcity,” added Thiagarajan, urging the State government to look into the issue.
Vendors, too, have demanded timely action from the government to solve this problem. “Water scarcity and other woes faced by farmers must be addressed soon to prevent the prices from rising further. Skyrocketing prices are a pain to both vendors and public,” said S Senthil Kumar, a trader at the market.
“While the price of tomatoes has gone up substantially, those of other vegetables, though slightly high, are more or less stable,” said M Abdul Khader, joint secretary, Koyambedu Wholesale Merchants Association.
A key ingredient in Tamil cuisine, tomato’s steep price is really burning holes in the pockets of people here. “Just seeing the prices of tomatoes makes me faint. It adds further strain to our weekly budget,” said S Mythili, a homemaker from Vepery.
S Sundari, a domestic worker lamented that her family was forced to have curds instead of curries and rasam for which tomato is an indispensible ingredient.