Tomato Prices Drop 22.5% As Fresh Crop Inflow Picks Up

New Delhi: The retail price of tomatoes is on the decline as the arrival of the fresh crop has picked up momentum in the wholesale markets. The all-India average retail price of tomato fell to Rs 52.35 per kg as of November 14 which is 22.4 per cent lower than Rs 67.50 per kg on October 14, according to a statement issued by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs on Sunday. During the same period, the average prices at Azadpur mandi declined by almost 50 per cent, from Rs 5,883 per quintal to Rs 2,969 per quintal with the increase in tomato arrivals. Similar declines in mandi prices are reported from benchmark markets such as Pimpalgaon, Madanapalle and Kolar, the statement said. The total annual production of tomatoes, as per the third advance estimate of the Department of Agriculture is 213.20 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, which represents a 4 per cent increase over 204.25 lakh tonnes in 2022-23.