Bhubaneswar, June 24: Tomato prices have shot up, thanks to the overseas demand, which has led to rise in rates at supply points in Bangalore and Kolar, from where around 100 tonnes of tomatoes come to the city daily.

The areas around the city are also fed with this supply.

According to market sources, while a tray or 23kg of tomatoes was selling at Rs 450 last week, it sold at Rs 680 today. 
“Today, a retailer bought it at Rs 30-a-kg. So, after the transportation charges inside the city (depending on the distance from the main mandi at Unit I daily market), they would sell the stuff between Rs 36 and 40 per kilogram,” said Santosh Kumar Sahu, who owns the largest vegetable trading company SKS in the city.

Sahu said the present market condition would continue at least for two weeks or even more as the tomatoes were now getting more supply orders from the Middle East, Arab nations and countries such as Pakistan due to the Ramazan season.

Sources said six to seven trucks of tomatoes (average vehicle with around 17-tonne carrying capacity) were needed for the Unit I daily market. The city supply needs around 60 tonnes and the rest goes to other nearby markets, including those in Puri and other important places such as Jatni and Khurda.

Homemaker Jayashree Dash said: “Last week, the vegetable was selling at Rs 20-a-kg, but suddenly the price has become double. Common people like us will suffer because of the jump in prices.”

The vegetable merchant from SKS, however, said: “Just like marriage seasons affect the local vegetable market at times, the Ramazan, being a huge worldwide event and the Middle East and the Arab world is dependent mostly on the Indian supply, almost all major states in India are now facing the shortage.”

In July last year, tomatoes were selling at Rs 60-a-kg in the local market. At that time, one tray would cost Rs 1,250. It was the highest-ever price for the vegetable in Bhubaneswar and the vendors were purchasing it from the Unit I mandi at Rs 54-a-kg.

While markets in the state are hit by shortage because the supply centres are far away in Karnataka, Odisha happens to be the fourth largest producer of tomatoes in India.

The state’s production of tomatoes is more than seven per cent of the national share.

However, while farmers in and around Bangalore have adopted production of vegetables in controlled condition (inside shed, net houses or green houses), in Odisha, such procedures are missing.

According to data provided by the state’s horticulture directorate, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Bihar, Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Himanchal Pradesh are the top 10 tomato-producing states. 
But, Karnataka is the only state, which has taken vegetable production under the controlled condition seriously, and producing tomatoes, capsicum and French beans in ample quantity.

A senior official of the horticulture department said: “Tomatoes cannot be stored in cold storages for more than 30 days as it is a highly perishable commodity. The only option is to sensitise more farmers about here to take up farming of the cash vegetable crops under controlled condition and lessen the over dependence on Bangalore market.”

The directorate last year developed a centre for excellence near Deras on the city outskirts with assistance from the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for Rs 18 crore.

The centre has five poly-greenhouses, 24 poly-tunnel houses and seven net houses for production of various high-yielding varieties of vegetables and flowers. The protected structures have special facilities to reduce temperature up to 6°C to 7°C for off-season vegetable cultivation.

“There is a plan to educate the local farmers to produce high-yielding vegetables such as tomatoes and capsicum round the year,” said a senior official.