With the recent influx of new tomato supplies from Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the tomato prices in Lucknow have experienced a substantial decline.
In the past five days, prices have sharply decreased from INR 180 per kilogram to a range of INR 100-120 per kilogram in retail markets.
Traders anticipate a further decrease in prices within the upcoming 15 days.
According to traders, Himachal Pradesh, a significant provider to northern markets such as Uttar Pradesh, witnessed a notable surge in tomato production, escalating from 2,000 metric tonnes to 26,000 metric tonnes in August. This surge in supply resulted in a reduction in prices.
From August to October, there are expectations of substantial increases in tomato production from states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh.
A wholesaler on Sitapur Road said, “Wholesale tomato price has fallen from INR 180 to INR 60 per kg in the last five days. With the arrival of Maharashtra’s crop, prices are expected to fall further. However, some retailers are still selling it at INR 120 per kg.”
Another dealer, Sonu Sonkar, said they are daily receiving 13 truckloads of tomatoes again, which had gone down to three per day in July.
Wholesalers at Dubagga Mandi said, “Many had stopped buying tomatoes due to high prices, but now the kitchen staple will be back in demand. We are expecting that by the end of the month, tomatoes will be sold at INR 60 per kg in retail.”