Tomato Price Hike: Will tomato become an obstacle in Modi's way in the fight against inflation? The ever-increasing prices became a cause for concern

Posted on 2nd Jun 2022 by rohit kumar

Inflation is touching the sky in the country. While retail inflation has reached an eight-year peak, while wholesale inflation has broken all records, it has reached a new peak. PM Modi is taking continuous steps to control this, but tomato can become a big obstacle in his path. The ever-increasing prices of tomatoes are now becoming a cause of concern for the government.

 

The role of vegetables in toppling the government

 

Significantly, other vegetables, including onions, have been instrumental in bringing turmoil in the politics of India many times. The vegetable has an unusual history of toppling governments in the country and the rate at which tomato prices are rising in India has put politicians in trouble. Let us tell you that tomatoes, potatoes, and onions are vegetables that are used in the kitchen every day and the increase in their prices directly affects the common man through the kitchen. The average retail price of tomatoes in India rose by 70 percent a month ago and 168 percent from a year ago to Rs 53.75 (69 cents) per kg as of Tuesday, according to data presented by the food ministry.

 

 

Such a difference came in a month

 

According to data from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, tomato prices in Delhi, however, appear to be under control and the retail market has not increased much. In one month, the tomato has increased from Rs 30/kg to Rs.60/kg in the retail market of Delhi. At the same time, the price of Mumbai tomato has increased from Rs 36 a kg to Rs 62 a kg, Kolkata from Rs 25 to Rs 77 a kg in a month.

 

Inflation spoiled the domestic budget

 

Prices of everything from cooking oil to wheat flour have soared in India, pushing inflation to an eight-year high in April and crippling the household budget. However, the government took a big step in a hurry and banned the export of wheat and sugar. At the same time, now in a report, such a possibility has been expressed that after lemon-onion, the fire in tomato prices may not create problems for the government.

 

Effect of decrease in production on prices

 

The report said rising prices of food items, including tomatoes, could also have political implications. It said that during PM Modi's 2018 campaign while explaining the meaning of 'TOP' to tomato, onion, and potato, farmers are his top priority. Prem Bais, 36, a vegetable vendor from Mumbai, said there is a shortage of tomatoes at present. The supply from the old crop is running out and a new crop will come only in about three months. This is the reason why Tomato is now selling tomatoes at Rs 80 per kg.

 

no relief at the moment

 

Recently, in a report released regarding the increase in the price of tomatoes, it was said that the price of tomatoes has reached Rs 120 per kg in many states of the country. Speaking about this, Shriram Gadve, President, of the Vegetable Growers Association of India had said that there is little hope of any reduction in tomato prices in the recent past. Its prices are likely to come down in July when the new crop will arrive. He had said that due to the weather the crop has been ruined and the supply has been affected. Due to this, the price of tomatoes in the country has become a cause of concern.

 

Food inflation at 8.83 percent in April

 

Tomato is a common vegetable, which is used every day in the common man's kitchen. The wild increase in its price is also a cause of trouble for the central government, which is trying to control the ever-increasing food inflation. Let us inform you here that in April, the inflation rate of food articles has reached a high of 17 months, reaching 8.83 percent. In such a situation, it would not be wrong to say that the red color of the tomato has created a problem not only for the general public but also for the government.

 

Also Read: Wheat Exports: DGFT's instructions regarding export of wheat, said- physical verification of all documents should be done