Tomatoes prices soar in Bengaluru compared to other metros. Here's why

Bengaluru is one of the metropolitan cities where tomatoes are the costliest as there is a short supply in the market after the scorching summer heat caused a major drop in yield.

Published on: Jun 2, 2022, 17:39:51 IST

By Yamini C S | Edited by Chandrashekar Srinivasan

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Tomatoes in Bengaluru cost a staggering ₹95 per kilogram, according to government data, which is higher than that in nearly all other metro cities. It is not, though, as high as it was last month; tomato prices in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru, crossed Rs. 100 per kilogram in mid-May.

Independent vegetable shops are now pricing tomatoes at around Rs. 90 a kilogram in the Karnataka capital. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) (Image for representation only) (AP)

Prices have been rising mainly due to short supply in the market after the scorching summer heat caused a major drop in yield.

Tomato prices at the Horticultural Producers Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society of Limited (HOPCOMS) in Bengaluru were between ₹62 and ₹64 per kilogram in the beginning of May, which rose to ₹75 by mid-May.

Meanwhile, malls, grocery stores, e-commerce websites and independent vegetable shops are selling tomatoes at or near ₹90 per kilo in Bengaluru.

A resident claimed prices had touched ₹120 at the city's KR Market but were half that price in the Kanakpura Main Road markets.

Prices were at ₹80 in Hyderabad, while Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi stood at ₹77, ₹74, ₹62 and ₹39, respectively.

According to a PTI report, three cities - Port Blair, Shillong, Kottayam and the town of Pathanamthitta in Kerala - topped the list for the highest retail prices of tomatoes, which were ruling at more than ₹100 per kg.

Along with soaring fuel prices in the city, citizens are now also faced with skyrocketing tomato prices, which is a staple in every home.

Residents are therefore switching to alternatives for tomato like tamarind.

The price hike also hit hotel chains and commercial establishments, which considered price hikes for dishes that rely heavily on the crop.

(With agency inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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