Unseasonal rain causes ginger-tomato prices to shoot up

In the past two weeks, the prices of tomato and ginger have skyrocketed. While the recent unseasonal rains in northern India have impacted the tomato crop, ginger producers are delaying their harvest and allowing prices to soar in order to make up for the losses they suffered last year.

From ₹40 per kg in the retail market a fortnight ago, tomatoes now cost about ₹80 per kg.

'Tomato supply to the Azadpur mandi (in Delhi) has dwindled as rains have damaged the crop. Prices will remain firm for some time now, till the new crop comes,' said Ashok Kaushik, president of the Tomato Traders Association at Azadpur market. There is a huge demand for tomatoes from southern India, which too is pushing up prices, Kaushik said. 'Tomatoes are now coming from some parts of Haryana and UP. Prices are likely to remain firm for at least two months,' he added to The Economic Times

Prices for ginger, which were earlier ₹30 for 100 gms, have risen to ₹40.

Shriram Gadhave, president of the All India Vegetable Growers Association, said: 'Last year, the farmers suffered due to a lower price. This time they are offloading the crop carefully. Now that the prices have gone up, they will start offloading their crop in the market', as reported by The Economic Times