Visakhapatnam: Tomatoes turn costly for common man

Visakhapatnam: After onions that brought tears to the eyes, tomatoes take the turn as the vegetable�??s cost increases in the market.

In a span of 10 days, tomato price jumps to Rs.32 from Rs.23 a kg as the supply to the markets gets affected. Currently, a kg of tomatoes cost Rs.32 in rythu bazaars and Rs.45 to Rs.50 a kilo in retail markets.

While Madanapalli remains to be the main supplier of tomatoes, local yields also play a part in meeting the demand of the vegetable. Tomatoes grown in Amrutapuram, Thavvavanipalem, Chintagatla, along with K Kotapadu and Anakapalli will be ready to arrive in the markets by December, informed marketing officials. �??Until we receive the local crop, there will be fluctuations in the market,�?? explained Murali Krishna, Estate Officer of rythu bazaar at Ukkunagaram.

Following the tight supply in the market, tomato counters witness a huge queue in rythu bazaars. While there are few rythu bazaars that operate twice a day like the ones in Gopalapatnam, MVP Colony and Sithammadhara, the others operate only once a day. �??There is a requirement of approximately 600 to 700 kilos of tomatoes per day in Rythu Bazaars that work twice a day. But in the ones that operate once a day, 200 kilos of tomatoes are normally required,�?? said K Varahalu, Estate Office of Rythu Bazaar at Marripalem.

Meanwhile, a kilo of onions cost Rs 48 in Rythu Bazaars, consumers get the same quantity for Rs 60 at open markets. �??We need to shell out a minimum Rs.100 for a kg of onions and tomatoes. Basic kitchen staple turns out to be costlier these days. Hope the scenario changes soon,�?? said G Padmavathi, a resident of Seethammadhara.

As consumers make do with insufficient supply of tomatoes in the market at the moment, department officials expect a change in the situation in two weeks from now as the local crops start trickling in by then.