While onion prices eased a little on Thursday, citizens continued to be battered by high rates of other vegetables like tomato and garlic.
Traders said there was no change in prices of tomato on Thursday which stood at Rs 40 a kg in retail same as on Wednesday. Prices of tomato has risen to Rs 40 a kg in retail in Delhi in the past three days against Rs 15-20 a kg 10 days back, they added.
The wholesale prices of the tomato in Azadpur market (Asia’s biggest fruit & vegetable market) has moved upward from Rs 10-15 a kg ten days ago to Rs 25-30 a kg, President of Tomato Traders Association Darshan Lal Arora said.
The scenario is no better in other cities also where both wholesale and retail rates of the important vegetable (tomato) is on rise now from past 10 days. Along with tomato the citizens are feeling pinch due to enhanced cost of garlic which is ruling at Rs 250-280 a kg in retail in the national capital and other prominent cities.
Commerce secretary Rahul Khullar assured that the government will look into spiraling prices of tomato but made it clear that its exports are insignificant to impact domestic prices. “Tomato export is allowed under the Open General Licence (OGL) But it is very small. Even, the domestic production is mostly consumed within the local growing area … But it is not the same as onion,” Khullar said.