Chennai: Due to reduced southwest monsoon rains in Tamil Nadu and neighboring states, the cultivation area has decreased, and the price of tomatoes in Chennai has risen to Rs. 65.
At the national level, tomatoes are cultivated on 842,000 hectares. From this, 26 million tons of tomatoes are produced. In the country’s tomato production, Madhya Pradesh ranks first, cultivating on an area of 120,000 hectares annually and producing 2.7 million tons.
Andhra Pradesh is in second place with an area of 57,000 hectares and production of 2.3 million tonnes, while Karnataka is in third place with an area of 70,000 hectares and production of 1 million tonnes. Tamil Nadu is in sixth place with an area of 54,000 hectares and production of 1.623 million tonnes.
As a result, Tamil Nadu has to depend on other states to meet its tomato demand. In Tamil Nadu, 56 percent of total production takes place in the districts of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri.
In these two districts, the southwest monsoon has decreased by 17 percent and 25 percent respectively. As a result, the supply of tomatoes to Chennai has declined and their price has risen.
At the Koyambedu market yesterday, tomatoes were sold at Rs. 46 per kg in wholesale, Rs. 55 in retail, Rs. 46 in farm fresh stores, Rs. 60 in supermarkets, and Rs. 65 per kg in retail sales markets including Arumbakkam, Saidapet, and Perambur.
Housewives have been struggling due to the rise in tomato prices. When asked about this, Koyambedu tomato wholesale traders association president M. Thiagarajan said, "This year, the southwest monsoon has decreased by 24 percent across South India.
As a result, the area under tomato cultivation has decreased in states including Tamil Nadu. Tomatoes usually come to Koyambedu from areas bordering Tamil Nadu in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, such as Chintamani, Ottiapalli, and Palamaner. At present, since the arrival of tomatoes to Koyambedu from those areas has declined, prices have increased," he said.