La Tomatina, a popular festival in Spain where participants engage in a tomato fight, might seem extravagant considering the skyrocketing price of tomatoes in Karnataka, India. The humble red vegetable has experienced a 200% price increase in recent weeks, rising from Rs 40 to Rs 125 per kilo. Disruption in supplies from tomato-growing districts such as Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, Chitradurga, and Bengaluru Rural is the primary reason behind this sharp rise. The Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Kolar witnessed tomato crates being sold at Rs 1,080-1,100, significantly higher than the average retail price. This price surge is a boon for tomato growers but a burden for end-users, who are forced to pay more for this essential household ingredient. The horticulture department deputy director in Kolar attributes the supply shortage to the white fly disease, causing crop loss. Farmers, who have faced losses in previous years, have opted for alternative vegetable crops instead of tomatoes. The high perishability of tomatoes has also contributed to their limited availability as their shelf life during transit has decreased from 54 to 42 hours. In addition to tomatoes, the prices of other vegetables have also risen in the past 10 days. Onions, potatoes, green chillies, beans, bottlegourd, ridgegourd, and leafy vegetables have experienced significant price hikes. This increase is due to various factors such as increased transport costs, weather conditions, and price manipulation by middlemen. Consumers are feeling the impact of these rising vegetable prices, with the cost of basic vegetables increasing by up to 77% compared to the previous year. The Kalasipalya Wholesale Vegetable Traders’ Association is hopeful that the new harvest season will help balance the demand and supply of vegetables in the market.
