Delhi, 3rd August 2023: The ongoing tomato price crisis in Delhi shows no sign of abating as Mother Dairy, one of the leading retail chains, is now selling tomatoes at a staggering Rs 259 per kilogram at its Safal retail stores. This sharp increase in prices is a result of a significant drop in tomato supply from key producing regions across India, which have been hit by heavy rainfall causing damage to the crops before they could be harvested. As a consequence, the average retail price in Delhi has reached Rs 203 per kilogram.
The impact of the supply shortage is palpable at Azadpur Mandi, Asia’s largest wholesale fruits and vegetables market. On Wednesday, the supply of tomatoes decreased by 15%, with only six small trucks arriving from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with tomato shipments.
A spokesperson from Mother Dairy highlighted that weather irregularities have been adversely affecting tomato supplies nationwide for the past two months. Over the last couple of days, the arrivals at Azadpur, the primary supplier for Delhi, have plummeted significantly, leading to a sharp surge in wholesale prices, consequently affecting retail prices as well.
In response to the escalating tomato prices, the central government had implemented measures starting from July 14, providing tomatoes at reduced rates through Safal outlets. However, due to the limited supply, prices have once again surged.
Ashok Kaushik, President of the Azadpur Tomato Association, acknowledged that the arrival of tomatoes has drastically decreased in the last three days due to the damage caused by heavy rainfall in major tomato-producing regions. Nonetheless, Kaushik remains optimistic, expecting the supply situation to improve over the next ten days.
To alleviate the burden on consumers in Delhi, the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is offering tomatoes at a subsidized rate of just Rs 70 per kilogram, with doorstep delivery and no additional charges. Consumers can place orders for tomatoes, up to a maximum of 2 kilograms, through platforms like Paytm and MagicPin.
