Maharashtra: Tomato prices go up with demand

Nashik: After onions, tomato prices are rising due to the heavy demand in places across the country, where the crop is scarce, with supplies mostly from just Nashik. On Sunday, tomatoes were traded in Pimpalgaon Baswant Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) with the highest price quoted at Rs 42.50 per kg. The same was Rs 28.05 a fortnight ago. 

Chandwad APMC chairman Dr Atmaram Kumbharde said, “The returning rainfall has destroyed nearly 80 per cent of tomato and other crops in the district. The earlier fruit has been washed off and buds have formed but they will take nearly a month to ripen and till then the position will be tight.” The tomato has been affected by ‘karpe,’ a fungal disease, which causes black spots on the fruit. The reason for the same is the unseasonal rainfall despite the strict care by farmers. 

Arun Chavanke, tomato commission agent, Pimpalgaon Baswant APMC said that a good crop is expected in Gujarat but will take nearly a month and till then, the country would have to depend on the tomatoes from Nashik. 

Pimpalgaon Baswant in Niphad tehsil of Nashik district is the largest producer of tomatoes in the country. They are traded on a crate basis in Nashik and each crate has an average capacity of 20 kg.