Hey there, foodies and budget-conscious shoppers! If you’ve been noticing a sudden drop in tomato prices at your local markets, you’re not alone. The wholesale markets in Maharashtra, especially in Pune and Mumbai, are currently flooded with tomatoes, leading to a significant decrease in prices.
Right now, you can snag some juicy tomatoes for as low as Rs 4 to Rs 5 per kg at the wholesale market, while retail prices are ranging from Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg. Quite a steal, right?
This tomato bonanza is a far cry from last year when prices skyrocketed to Rs 100 per kg due to a shortage caused by heavy rainfall. Farmers in districts like Pune, Sangli, Satara, and others saw an opportunity and went all in on tomato cultivation. Fast forward to today, and we’re looking at a tomato surplus that’s driving prices down.
Pune and Mumbai are seeing a steady influx of tomatoes from areas like Khed, Manchar, Ambegaon, and Junnar in Pune district. Vilas Bhujbal, a Senior Commissioning Agent at Pune’s Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard, revealed that they’re receiving double the usual volume of tomatoes daily, thanks to the bumper crop.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the farmers. The plummeting prices have hit them hard, with many struggling to cover costs and some even having to discard their produce. Ajit Tambe, a farmer from Varude in Pune, shared his woes about the current situation, where selling a crate of tomatoes for Rs 70 to Rs 80 just isn’t cutting it.
To make matters worse, neighboring states aren’t showing as much love for Maharashtra’s surplus tomatoes as farmers had hoped. The reduced demand is adding to their frustration, especially after last year’s price hike.
So, next time you’re making a fresh salad or whipping up some pasta sauce, remember the journey those tomatoes took to reach your plate. And maybe consider stocking up while prices are this low!
Thanks For Reading Report of Punepress.com