Diwali pushes onion, tomato up to 80/kg again in Delhi

NEW DELHI: If you have been cooking onion-less curries for a month or so because of spiralling prices of the kitchen staple, you might soon start skipping tomatoes too. After a temporary relief from high vegetable prices last week, onion and tomato have again peaked to Rs 80 per kg each at several places across Delhi. Traders blame the rise on the sudden increase in demand over the Diwali weekend, but say that the prices are not likely to fall for another week.

On Tuesday, wholesale price of tomatoes in Azadpur mandi ranged from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kg, much higher than even the retail price — Rs 18 a kg — at the market on October 15. Production of tomato this year has been hit due to heavy rains, with Delhi having to do with only 30-35% of the normal produce, sources in Azadpur said. However, after another week, fresh produce from Rajasthan should push down the price a bit. Traders have claimed drop in tomato supply.

Retail onion prices marginally fell to Rs 60-70 in the last week of October after fresh produce arrived from Alwar. However, it was selling for Rs 80 a kg on Tuesday, Diwali demand having pushed it up.

“This is a ridiculous situation. When we were thinking that onion prices have started coming down, they have shot up again. What are we expected to cook without both onions and tomatoes? The government should redefine Indian cuisine,” Meghna Awasthi, a teacher, said.

Tomato trader Ashok Kushi said, “There has been a sudden drop in supply of tomatoes as well. From the daily 30-odd trucks that used to come to the wholesale market, we have been getting only 8-10 in the past couple of days. Because of Diwali, several people are on leave. Even picking in the farms has stopped for a few days. Once workers start resuming duty after the festive season, prices will start coming down. However, it will take about a week”.