Rising vegetable prices plague Top 8 Indian cities affecting consumers

Vegetable prices continue to soar in the top eight metro cities of India, affecting consumers' budgets and raising concerns about the availability of fresh produce. In addition to tomatoes, ginger, green chillies, and garlic prices have also experienced a notable increase.

The surge in prices can be attributed to various factors, including supply constraints caused by the monsoon season and fears of produce going bad. The impact is being felt in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat, and Bengaluru.

Tomato prices have become particularly burdensome for consumers, with the retail cost of 1 kg ranging from Rs 125-158 across the major metro cities. Last week, tomatoes breached the Rs 100 per kg mark in local shops and have since continued to rise, causing financial strain for shoppers.

Ginger prices are also witnessing a sharp increase, with the tuber now costing more than Rs 150-200 per kg. This rise can be attributed to overproduction in Maharashtra during the previous season, resulting in lower prices for farmers. To recoup their losses, farmers are holding back their produce, leading to a reduction in supply and subsequent price hikes.

The unseasonal rains in April, which destroyed standing tomato crops in North India, have further contributed to the surge in prices. To compensate for the shortage, northern states have had to source tomatoes from southern states like Karnataka, resulting in increased transportation costs.

Farmers' preference for cultivating beans over tomatoes due to better prices has also affected tomato crops. This decision has led to a decrease in tomato cultivation and subsequently impacted the availability and cost of tomatoes in the market, the prices across India's top eight metro cities are:

Mumbai: Rs 147 per kg; Delhi: Rs 157 per kg; Bengaluru: Rs 132 per kg; Chennai: Rs 132 per kg; Hyderabad: Rs 130 per kg; Ahmedabad: Rs 153 per kg; Kolkata: Rs 158 per kg; Surat: Rs 40 per kg; Pune: Rs 125 per kg.