Tomatoes Up Three-fold As Higher Spoilage Spikes Veggie Prices

The two retailers, Ramji and Naim Khan, opened their shops in the morning only to find that huge quantities of tomatoes, ginger, and chillies were missing

Tomatoes are selling for upwards of Rs 120 per kg in India, whereas in Nepal, they cost Rs 100 to Rs 110 Nepali rupees which come at around Rs 70-75 per kg in Indian rupees

After moving in a narrow range for several weeks, green vegetables have started firming up in spot Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) yards due to the long dry spell and frequent changes in climatic conditions, resulting in high spoilage. Deficiency of rain in major growing regions have made farmers worried on sowing of seeds, planting of saplings and growth of plants towards maturity. Data compiled by the government-owned Agmarknet showed okra (bhindi) in the Ahmedabad APMC jumped 80 per cent over the past month to trade currently at Rs 45 a kg; at the Bengaluru wholesale market, it doubled to Rs 28 a kg. The same vegetable in Mumbai and Kolkata, however, rose only 11 per cent and eight per cent, to trade at Rs 20 a kg in both APMCs there.Bitter gourd in Mumbai is up 20 per cent since May 20, to trade this Friday at Rs 24 a kg in the wholesale market. Tomato prices have risen threefold in a month, following high spoilage. "Groundwater levels have slipped further. Rainfall ..