PANAJI: Costs of tomatoes are on hearth. Retail costs of the juicy reds have shot up from Rs 40 per kg to anyplace between Rs 60-80 per kg and distributors say that the costs are more likely to stay on the upper facet until the top of the month.

The value rise is partly because of the sharp distinction in climate circumstances. The extreme humidity and pre-monsoon rainfall have hit the crop in Goa’s neighbouring states.
“Rain and gusty winds have wreaked havoc on fields in Belagavi, leaving farmers no alternative however to discard the spoiled tomatoes. Those that survive typically soften throughout transit and we find yourself having to discard almost 5 kgs at a time resulting from injury,” stated Ali Shaikh, a vegetable vendor.
Coupled with the climate circumstances is the extra value of transportation owing to the non permanent closure of the Chorla ghat.
Asif Shaikh, a vendor from the Panaji market stated that he has resorted to sourcing totally different sorts of tomatoes to cowl the scarcity.
“Those utilized in Goan curries are promoting at Rs 80 per kg resulting from which we've got additionally sourced spherical button tomatoes which are sometimes used to organize purees or utilized in ketchup, that are promoting at Rs 60 per kg. These have a thicker consistency and may act as a brief substitute till the costs of the common tomatoes stabilise,” he stated.
Some distributors are selecting to promote tomatoes for Rs 60 on the retail worth, after getting a superb deal upon bulk purchases.
“We have now managed to get a superb cut price from our suppliers in Belagavi and have due to this fact not hiked retail charges an excessive amount of. If we are able to buy the product at an inexpensive worth, it solely is sensible to promote it to prospects on the fee inexpensive to them,” stated vegetable vendor Imamkasib Mokashi.