Tomato prices surge across India amid heatwaves and crop damage
Tomato prices are way up across India, rising 16% just this past month and a hefty 23% compared to last year.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs says it's mostly because crop damage, heatwaves, and late monsoons hit major tomato-growing states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.
In May alone, tomato inflation soared to 48.43%, making them a big reason for higher food costs lately.
Retail prices cross ₹36/kg
With retail prices crossing ₹36 per kilogram, tomatoes are getting expensive for everyone, from home cooks to restaurants serving up tomato-heavy dishes.
Crisil expects these high prices to stick around until August due to less summer planting and tough weather in key regions.
Even though the Agriculture Ministry predicts more tomatoes the current crop year, supply issues during lean months mean we could see price spikes again unless farming gets better managed.