Tomato prices to cool soon: Centre

The Centre on Tuesday said the spurt in tomato prices seen in the last 10 days was mainly due to disruption of supplies from the south due to heavy rains in Tamil Nadu. The prices would come down in the next few days, it said.

In a statement, the government said it had decided to hold a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the prices of all essential commodities, including pulses and onions. "The arrival of new crop of tomatoes is expected to further ease prices."

Onion prices, too, have seen an increasing trend in the past month. But the prices would ease soon as the new crop was due to arrive in the market.

Tomato prices increased to Rs 62 a kg in Delhi from Rs 41 a month ago. Average prices across major cities rose to Rs 50 a kg from Rs 30 a month ago. In Tamil Nadu and its adjoining markets, prices zoomed to over Rs 100 a kg due to poor supplies from neighbouring states.

"There is a moderate increase in prices during September-December due to a demand-supply mismatch. The government is working closely with state governments to ensure that quick action is taken to prevent any abnormal increase in prices and to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities," the statement said.

The government said onion prices increased to Rs 37.52 a kg from Rs 36.82 a week ago. Similarly, tomatoes were being sold at Rs 43.18 a kg Rs 35.23 a week ago.

Among pulses, arhar dal prices have risen to Rs 151.67 a kg from Rs 149.91 while urad dal rates have gone up to Rs 141.47 a kg from Rs 137.06 a week ago, the statement said.

Some traders at Azadpur Mandi also expressed hope that the wholesale prices of tomato will decline soon after supplies pick up. "Tomato supplies have come down sharply in the last week or so due to vacation during the festive season and as a result prices have shot up in the market," said Subhash Chuk, a trader at Azadpur mandi.

Chuk said the high quality tomatoes in the wholesale market were today selling at Rs 20-25 per kg, less than yesterday's price of Rs 30-35 per kg.