The prices of tomatoes have seen a sharp rise going up to Rs 80 per kg, which according to experts is primarily attributed to heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, which have severely affected the supply of tomatoes to the market. Notably, Himachal Pradesh is a significant producer of tomatoes, and adverse weather conditions such as heavy rains can disrupt the harvesting and transportation of tomatoes to other parts of the country.The daily average price of tomato touched Rs 55 per kg on July 3, recorded at Rs 35 almost a month ago, according to the Consumer Affairs Ministry. According to the Economic Times, the prices of tomatoes also surged last year, when they jumped to Rs 350 per kg in some markets due to heavy rainfall and flash floods in some regions.The monsoon typically sees a rise in the prices of vegetables due to heavy rainfall that impacts the harvest. Moreover, transportation and moist weather lead to wastage that further affects the pricing.When supply decreases due to such weather-related issues, the demand-supply dynamics in the market lead to an increase in prices. Consumers feel the impact directly, as they end up paying higher prices for essential commodities like tomatoes.Government intervention through measures such as importing tomatoes from other states or stabilizing prices through subsidies may be considered to mitigate the price hike and ensure availability to consumers at reasonable rates.
