Tomato prices soar in Tamil Nadu as rains disrupt supply
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Chennai: Tomato prices have more than doubled across Tamil Nadu in recent weeks, rising from Rs 10 to 20 per kg in June to Rs 40 to 45 in several wholesale markets including Koyambedu in Chennai and Palacode in Dharmapuri.
The sharp increase is being blamed on disrupted supply from tomato-producing regions in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh following recent rainfall.
According to traders in Chennai, tomato arrivals have dropped by nearly 30 per cent, leading to a supply crunch. “We typically receive around 700 tons of tomatoes daily, mostly from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. This has now declined to around 500 tons,” said M. Thiagarajan, president of the Koyambedu Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Sellers’ Welfare Association. He added that rain damage and rising cultivation costs are also driving prices up.
In Dharmapuri, where tomatoes are grown year-round on nearly 12,000 hectares, production has taken a significant hit. Farmers typically scale back to around 1,500 hectares during the monsoon season due to fears of crop damage. The recent summer showers have further affected yields.
“Tomato plants are vulnerable to fungal infections and rot when exposed to heavy rain. This is why many farmers avoid planting during the monsoon. As production falls, prices naturally rise,” said a senior agriculture official from Dharmapuri.
Traders at the Palacode wholesale market confirmed the trend, saying prices are likely to remain high for at least two more weeks. “This is a routine seasonal fluctuation. Prices generally shoot up when supplies dip due to monsoon damage,” said local tomato trader Sanjay Ram.
Retail prices have also surged, with tomatoes selling at Rs 50 to 60 per kg in many markets across the state.
Officials expect prices to stabilize once fresh stocks arrive from other southern states and supply chains normalize. Until then, consumers and traders are likely to face continued price pressure on the kitchen staple.
