Tomato turns red hot again, prices cross Rs. 100 a kg across Telangana

Tomatoes are turning red hot once again. Prices of the fruit, which saw some farmers turning crorepatis last year in June-July, are beginning to shoot through the roof again, with a kilo of tomato being sold at Rs.100 in Zaheerabad on Monday. The price in erstwhile Karimnagar is almost on the same lines, while that in Khammam is inching towards Rs.100, with a kilo of tomato now being sold at Rs.80 on Sunday.

It is not just tomato, but prices of other vegetables, including onions and of essential commodities are on the rise across the State. In erstwhile Medak district, the price of tomato, which was sold at Rs.30 in the first week of June, went up to Rs.80 to Rs.100 in different vegetable markets. The vegetable, which is an essential item in Telangana’s kitchens, was sold at Rs.100 in Zaheerabad.

Usually, markets in Sangareddy, Siddipet and Medak districts get



tomatoes from local farmers, and also from the Bowenpally market in Hyderabad and Vantimamidi in Siddipet district. However, the quantity of tomatoes coming to the markets here has come down compared to previous months. Meanwhile, the price of onions, which was sold at Rs.20 to Rs.25 a kg a fortnight ago, is now Rs.50 to Rs.60 kg while the prices of ridge gourd is also hovering at Rs.80 to Rs.100 a kg, reportedly fuelled by the short supply in the market.

The price of cluster beans has also touched Rs.80 a kg in erstwhile Medak. Prices of the green chilli have shot up from Rs.80 a kg to Rs.120 a kg within a couple of weeks. The prices of leafy vegetables including coriander and mint have also gone up.

K Padmini, a homemaker in Sangareddy, said she could not get enough vegetables even after spending Rs.600 in the market because prices of all vegetables have gone up.