Tomato prices at Madanapalle Agricultural Market Yard have risen sharply. Grade-I tomatoes touched ₹42 per kg, and Grade-II reached ₹32 per kg on Sunday. This spike follows a steep drop in arrivals to just 70 tonnes, against a usual 800 tonnes daily—one of the lowest in months. In open markets across Rayalaseema, average tomatoes sell for about ₹60 per kg, while top varieties are over ₹80 in retail outlets. Market officials blame bad weather for the low supply. Heavy rains in November and changing temperatures caused crop stress and delayed harvests in key areas like Valmikipuram, Nimmanapalle, Tamballapalle, and Punganur. Fewer tomato consignments are reaching Madanapalle, making supply tight. The situation is worsened by rising demand from households, hotels, and caterers due to the upcoming Sankranti festival and ongoing Dhanurmasam and Ayyappa Deeksha rituals. Buyers from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are also increasing purchases from Madanapalle. Basha, a seasoned trader, said, “Such low arrivals are rare for Madanapalle, which usually handles several hundred tonnes a day during normal seasons.” Farmers hope for better prices but remain worried about further crop losses if bad weather continues. Experts expect prices to stay high for now and may ease only if new harvests reach the market soon.