Price of tomato goes up in Kerala market as supply comes from afar; traders expect fall soon

Kozhikode: Tomato prices have increased in Kerala as the distance traveled to reach the district has grown. With shipments from Gundlupete in Karnataka halting due to shortage, tomatoes are now being sourced from Kolar (Karnataka) and Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh. This increased distance is reflected in the rising prices. Since the beginning of October, the price of tomatoes per kg has consistently remained above Rs. 50.

On Thursday, the retail price of tomatoes was Rs. 51, while the wholesale price was Rs. 44.80. Prices peaked at Rs. 60 on October 4.

Previously, tomato prices had reached Rs. 64 in June but steadily decreased until they hit a low of Rs. 14.80 in August. During the Onam festivities, prices rose slightly, reaching Rs. 22 in retail shops.

By mid-September, the flow of tomatoes from Gundlupete was disrupted due to market shortages. Besides this, tomatoes have not been coming into Kerala markets from Tamil Nadu, which also relies heavily on Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for its supply.

The distance from Gundlupete to Kozhikode is 153 km, while Kolar is 415 km away. This distance has contributed to the rising prices, as transportation costs have increased. Furthermore, demand for vegetables has surged during the Navaratri season as people tend to practice vegetarianism during this time.

Traders believe that prices will naturally decrease once the crisis in Gundlupet is resolved. They anticipate that Gundelpet tomatoes will start arriving in the domestic market within a month, following recent issues caused by heavy rain and pest infestations affecting tomato cultivation.

In addition to tomatoes, the price of beans has also risen sharply. In August, beans were priced at Rs. 30 per kg, but this has increased to over Rs. 80 in October.