NEW DELHI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Tomato prices have shot up at least three to four times in India over the past one week, from 30 Indian Rupees (36 U.S. cents) to around 120 Indian Rupees (1.46 U.S. dollars) per kilogram, owing to loss of crops caused by heavy rains in several parts of the country.
In Delhi and surrounding areas, tomatoes were available at 100-120 Indian Rupees (1.22-1.46 dollars) per kilogram, while in the financial capital Mumbai they were sold for around 80 Indian Rupees (97 cents) per kilogram, in western city of Kolkata for 75 Indian Rupees (91 cents) per kilogram, and in southern city of Chennai for around 70 Indian Rupees (85 cents) per kilogram.
A top government official has reportedly said that the spurt in prices of tomatoes was a temporary seasonal phenomenon and that the rates will cool down soon.
"It is a highly perishable commodity. Transportation gets affected in areas that received sudden rains. It is a temporary issue," the Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh as saying.
According to data by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the average price of tomatoes on an all-India basis was 46 Indian Rupees (56 cents) per kilogram on June 27.
The modal price was 50 Indian Rupees (61 cents) per kilogram while the maximum price was 122 Indian Rupees (1.48 dollars) per kilogram, added the media report. ■
