Pricey tomatoes going off household menus

New Delhi: Tomatoes are slowly going off the menu in Delhi households as its prices have touched an all time peak of Rs 100 per kg in nearby supermarkets.

The cost of tomatoes is affecting each and every individual in Delhi. The monsoon has not only affected the traffic jams in the city but also hampered the production of tomatoes in various regions. 

“Currently, we are getting tomatoes from Shimla and the production there is less approximately 40 per cent, which is the main reason for soaring prices of the same”, said J.N. Shukla, who has been trading in tomatoes since 1980.

“I am trying to keep tomatoes out of my kitchen as much as possible. It is too heavy on my pocket these days”, said Savitri, a nearby resident near the Azadpur market. Like Ms Savitri, there are many housewives who have also stopped purchasing tomatoes.

Tomato trader Baichan Lal Mishra said that farmers had planted fewer tomatoes in Shimla so that wouldn’t face a loss if it gets spoiled due to the monsoon. “But now that they have realised that demands have increased and tomatoes can be produced, people have started planting them in Ratlam.”

“A month ago, the prices were 40-50 rupees per kg which is nominal, but now they prices have reached 70-80 rupees per kg,” Mr Shukla said. He added: “The traders carry their crates with utmost carefulness so that nobody steals even a single tomato from their crate. That’s how precious they are right now.”

“We will now be getting tomatoes from Nasik, Ratlam and Bhopal” said Mishra. “The rates are expected to fall since the planting has already been done in other regions and will grow in another two months”, Mr Shukla said.

It usually takes 3-4 days for the tomatoes to reach Delhi. The trading of tomatoes takes place round the clock as it’s shelf life will reduce if kept on hold any longer.