Tomato Prices Skyrocket in Nagaland, Leaving Consumers Frustrated
Nagaland residents are feeling the burden as the price of tomatoes soars to an unprecedented INR 100 per kilogram. This sudden spike has driven consumers to reduce their tomato consumption, while small street vendors have even halted the sale of this essential ingredient altogether.
When Eastern Mirror investigated the situation in Dimapur on Friday, tomato prices were found to range between INR 90 and 100 per kilogram in the retail market. This represents an increase of over INR 50 compared to the previous prices of INR 30-50 per kilogram before the monsoon season hit.
Reports suggest that tomato prices in Kohima are also in the INR 90-100 per kilogram range, with even higher rates between INR 100 and 120 per kilogram in Pfutsero under Phek district, and availability limited to selected shops.
The impact of rising prices is noticeable, as small street vendors opt out of selling tomatoes altogether due to their unaffordability. The vendors explain that the price hike is unavoidable as they purchase tomatoes at a wholesale rate of INR 75-85 per kilogram. Unfortunately, they often receive bags containing 25 kilograms with over 3-4 kilograms of rotten tomatoes.
Dimapur has 56 vegetable wholesale godowns located in Murgipati, from where most of the tomatoes are imported. They arrive from cities such as Bengaluru, Kolkata, Shillong, and Arunachal Pradesh. However, extreme heat and the delayed monsoon have led to a shortage of supply throughout the country, resulting in sharply increased tomato prices in multiple states.
This price surge has left consumers and vendors alike struggling to cope with the added financial burden. The situation calls for immediate attention from relevant authorities to address the supply shortage and mitigate the impact on consumers.
In conclusion, the sudden increase in tomato prices in Nagaland has had a significant impact on both consumers and vendors. The supply shortage caused by extreme heat and a delayed monsoon has resulted in skyrocketing tomato prices, forcing people to reduce their consumption. Small street vendors are particularly affected, with many choosing to stop selling tomatoes altogether due to their unaffordability. It is crucial for authorities to take action to rectify the supply shortage and alleviate the financial strain on consumers in Nagaland and beyond.
