Shoppers across southern India are feeling the squeeze in grocery stores as produce prices rise, with tomato prices in particular rising.
What is happening?
Deccan Chronicle Tomato prices have reportedly gone up, especially in the Chittoor belt, home to Madanapalle – one of Asia’s biggest tomato trading centres.
In the wholesale market, top-grade tomatoes recently sold for 610 rupees (about $6.78) per 10 kilograms, up from 440 rupees (about $4.89) the previous week. Second-grade tomatoes rose from $340 (about $3.78) to $480 (about $5.33). Retail prices also rose from INR 65 (about US$0.72) to INR 80 (US$0.89) per kg in many cities and crossed INR 90 (about US$1) per kg in some places.
Officials said the incessant rains following Cyclone Monta caused crop losses.
“Nearly 10,000 hectares of tomato crops in Madanapalli, Tambalalli, Punganur and Palamanir have been damaged due to excess moisture, rotting and pest infestation,” a marketing official said, according to the Deccan Chronicle. “Farmers were expecting a good season, but lower yields pushed prices higher.”
As a result, the daily import into the market fell to about 140 metric tons, which is well below average.
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And it wasn’t just tomatoes either. Carrots, beets, green chillies, brinjal, capsicum, drumsticks and even leafy vegetables have seen prices rise, with many vegetables now selling for between INR 50 (about US$0.56) and INR 110 (about US$1.22) per kg.
Why are rising food costs important?
For families already struggling with limited budgets, higher produce prices mean higher food bills and more difficulty putting food on the dinner table. According to the Deccan Chronicle, traders noted that the Karthika month, when vegetarian consumption traditionally increases, has increased pressure on demand. To address this problem, shoppers are buying smaller quantities or switching to cheaper items.
This rise in prices also highlights how increasingly volatile weather – heavy rains, powerful storms, and heat waves – is disrupting food production around the world. When crops fail or productivity declines, the effects ripple outward, from farmers who lose income to families who pay more for basic foodstuffs. We’ve seen this in other regions and in other foods, from the jump in US meat prices to the spike in coffee prices, underscoring how vulnerable grocery costs are to environmental changes.
What can we do about rising food prices?
Planning ahead can help soften the blow when you move out. Shopping seasonally, comparing store prices, and reducing food waste can make a difference in your grocery bill. These tips for shopping smarter at the grocery store Provide practical strategies to save money.
In the long term, experts stress the need for more flexible agricultural practices and better crop protection. These steps can prevent future shocks from hitting farmers and households as hard. In addition, addressing the underlying causes of rising global temperatures – the burning of coal, oil and gas that is warming the planet – is an essential step to slowing the climate shifts that contribute to extreme weather conditions.
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