Further slide in wholesale prices of tomato, potato

The month-on-month prices of tomato and potato, which have been ruling about 50% lower since January 2021, have declined further. Wholesale tomato prices in Maharashtra have crashed to Rs 3/kg to Rs 5/kg, while wholesale potato prices in Delhi are ruling between Rs 7/kg to Rs 9/kg and are expected to decline further.

Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon in Nashik district are two of India’s largest tomato markets during the monsoons season. However, farmers are getting only about Rs 3/kg to Rs 5/kg for their produce, which is not even enough to cover the transport cost. "Farmers are preferring to throw away the tomatoes instead of incurring the heavy cost of transporting them to the markets. The state government as well as the opposition parties from the state do not have time for this issue. The government should explore solutions like giving some financial support or working with processors to use the produce," said Ajit Navale of Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha.

India's export of tomatoes to Pakistan has stopped for the past three years. Lasalgaon APMC chairman Suvarna Jagtap has demanded that the central government forward to expedite export of tomatoes, which in turn can help support prices.