No let-up in prices of onion, potato, tomato

NEW DELHI: The government's claim that prices of onion, potato and tomato would moderate soon have fallen flat. While price of onion is hovering around Rs 70 a kg, tomato prices are Rs 60-70 in most north Indian cities. Potato prices have increased in almost all cities barring Ludhiana and Amritsar.

A comparison of retail prices in the past 12 days based on details provided by the price monitoring cell of consumer affairs ministry shows that tomato prices increased by Rs 18 per kg in Delhi while potato prices rose Rs 4 per kg. Prices of onion, tomato and potato went up in other cities including Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Dehradun and Indore. However, retail prices of these three remained stable in Mumbai.

This is despite government functionaries, including food and consumer affairs minister K V Thomas, saying prices would start moderating after Diwali. Even Centre's advisory to states to crack down on hoarders and middlemen making a killing has not worked.

Sources said while shooting tomato prices was due to insistent rain that damaged farm produce in many parts of the country, particularly in hill states and eastern region, traders were making maximum profit. This is evident from the fact that on Tuesday, while the wholesale tomato price in Delhi was Rs 33 per kg, the retail price was Rs 60. In Amritsar, it was no different. Against wholesale prices of Rs 35 per kg, tomato was selling at Rs 80 per kg in the retail market. However, both wholesale and retail potato prices have remained constant in cities of Punjab.

Government sources said that potato prices are on the rise as farmers in potato producing regions have put a check on the harvest so that they keep getting good prices for some more time. "Last year they had to sell potato at less than a Re per kg and farmers even threw tonnes on roads for not getting good price," said an official.

Meanwhile, prices of almost all vegetables have increased significantly in eastern parts of the country after Phailin which destroyed vegetable crops. By now the fresh produce such as cabbage, cauliflower and brinjal should have reached the market. But now farmers are going for fresh saplings and it will take at least two months for new produce to be available in the market.