Tomatoes become cheaper due to Telangana stir

Tomatoes from Chitoor District bordering Tamil Nadu diverted to Koyambedu Wholesale Vegetable Market in Chennai, resulting in heavy arrivals

In a fallout of the anti-Telangana agitation rocking Andhra Pradesh, the price of tomato has crashed here as the produce from villages bordering Tamil Nadu are being diverted to the city.
   
Tomatoes from Chitoor District bordering Tamil Nadu were being diverted to the Koyambedu Wholesale Vegetable Market, which caters to the entire metropolis, resulting in heavy arrivals, trade sources said today.
    
According to R Chandran, President, Vegetable and Tomato Traders Federation at Koyambedu market, normally tomato price would come down during August and September as the yield during the period would be more.
   

The additional arrivals from Andhra Pradesh has led to further softening of price of tomatoes with one kg being quoted around Rs 9 per kg.

   
"This time, due to the ongoing agitation in Andhra Pradesh, tomatoes from Madanapalle and Surattapalli (in Chittoor district) are being diverted here," Chandran told PTI.
    
Normally, the market receives about 40 truck loads of tomatoes a day. But now it was getting an additional 15 trucks resulting in lower prices.
    
He said, "normally a box of 13 kilo tomato is priced at Rs 150 to 200. But now the prices of tomatoes have fallen to Rs 120 (for normal variety) and Rs 150 (for hybrid)".
    
However, Chennaites are facing trouble on another vegetable front with the price of onion soaring by at least Rs 20 per kg to Rs 58.

    
"Due to less yield and with some traders looking for exports, the supply of onions, which normally arrive from Maharashtra and Karnataka,  has decreased leading to price increase", another trader said.
    
According to him, the trend was expected to continue till September.