The Newz Radar
SOLAN: Tomato prices in the Solan vegetable market have been witnessing a significant jump, crossing the Rs 2,700 mark. The highest bid for a crate of tomatoes reached an astounding Rs 2,711. However, the weight of the crate sold at such a high price was 10 kg more than the standard one.
While a regular tomato crate weighs 25 kg, the crate sold for Rs 2,711 contained 35 kg of tomatoes. The maximum price for a 25 kg crate was Rs 2,200. The impact of the rising tomato prices in the mandi is being felt in the retail market as well, with tomatoes being sold at Rs 80 to 100 per kg.
The surge in prices can be attributed to the damage to tomato crops in states such as Rajasthan, Karnataka, Punjab, and Haryana due to unseasonal rains. This has led to an increased demand for Himachali tomatoes.
A mandi official said farmers were receiving higher prices for tomatoes than expected. On Monday, tomato prices ranged between Rs 1,850 and Rs 2,200 per crate, with a crate weighing 35 kg fetching a price above Rs 2,700.
Solan district of Himachal is known for tomato production as the crop is grown on approximately 5,120 hectares of land, with a potential annual yield of two lakh metric tonnes, according to data from the state Agriculture Department. However, unfavorable weather conditions, including unseasonal rain, have resulted in a decrease in this year’s tomato yield compared to the previous year.
