Mumbai: I wanted to punch him in the face; rising tomato prices lead to anguish and changing food patterns

“Tomato prices hike every year, but this year the rise is dramatic,” a vendor in Dadar wholesale vegetable market said.

The rising vegetable prices, particularly tomatoes, in India are affecting both customers and vendors, leading to changes in consumption patterns and financial strain on households. The government's measures to reduce prices in some areas provide partial relief, but the overall issue persists.

As a result of the skyrocketing prices, staple vegetables like tomatoes have become unaffordable for many low-income households in Mumbai. The sharp rise from 40 rupees to 160 rupees per kilo has put a significant strain on household budgets, leaving Mumbaikars grappling with the challenge of accessing essential ingredients for Indian cooking.

The impact of the tomato shortage goes beyond just the vegetable itself. Tomatoes are a fundamental ingredient in various Indian dishes, and their scarcity and high prices has led to changes in consumption patterns and forced people to seek alternative ingredients for cooking.

Strolls through vegetable markets in Dadar and Santacruz point out that the dramatic price rise has caused angst among the buyers as well as sellers. Midday Online spoke to wholesalers, residential vegetable vendors and customers to understand how they are dealing with the rising vegetable prices and what they expect from the government.

Renuka, a Mulund resident, usually travels to Dadar wholesale market to buy vegetables and fruits as groceries are sold at cheaper rates here than in many residential markets. But she was upset with the retailer from whom she usually buys vegetables. "I wished to punch him (the retailer) in the face as the prices he offered were high and the stock was not good," Renuka said, "Tomatoes are more expensive than petrol, how can I afford them?"

Vendors are equally facing difficulties due to the unpredictable price hikes. They are experiencing reduced sales as customers cut down on quantities and seek alternatives. Factors like extreme weather conditions and damaged stocks are exacerbating the situation for vendors.

"Tomato prices hike every year, but this year the rise is dramatic," a vendor in Dadar wholesale vegetable market told Midday Online.

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He said the prices keep rising every day. Yesterday, he said, "one cart of tomatoes was priced at Rs. 2800 and today, it is 3500". "There is uncertainty over the price hike; we do not know till when this will continue," the anguished vendor said.

At some places in Mumbai, the prices of tomatoes range from Rs. 130 to Rs. 140 per kilogram.

Apoorva, a non-Mumbaikar who lives in a rented accommodation in Santacruz said that for bachelors like her, staying away from family and surviving in an ‘expensive' city like Mumbai is difficult. "To add to that the hike in vegetable prices have laden us with additional burden."

The government's intervention to sell tomatoes at a discounted rate in some cities is a step towards providing relief to the public, but there is no such announcement in Maharashtra. Customers and vendors alike are hoping for more pocket-friendly solutions from the government to address the soaring vegetable prices.

According to the officials, the hike in the price of vegetables is temporary and they will be back to normal, soon. However, in a country like India, tomatoes are a staple and like onions, they go with every other curry that gets cooked in an Indian kitchen. The problem is not only limited to tomatoes though, as prices of all vegetables have increased.

"I honestly do not know what the alternatives to tomatoes are. No curry gets cooked without tomatoes in it. Although we have reduced the consumption of tomatoes, it is a necessity," another resident at Dadar market said.

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Rekha said that she does not buy tomatoes unless necessary and has instead shifted to making dal, fried potato sabzi, and parathas. "Each vegetable costs 25 to 30 rupees/250 grams, so which ones should we buy? If I buy tomatoes, I will buy 250 grams and use them for a week by utilizing one tomato for two meals," she added.

Renuka says she has stopped eating tomatoes and vegetables and has shifted to eating cereals owing to the high prices. While Apoorva often resorts to eating something outside and if she cooks at home, she ensures to recook the same curry for two meals.

"It is not that the government does not know about this, maybe they want to unsee it. But these soaring prices have disrupted the kitchen budget of almost every household," says another customer.

On July 16, the government of India started to sell tomatoes at a discounted rate of Rs. 80/kg, in Delhi NCR and several other cities including Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur and Patna through cooperatives NAFED and NCCF, according to an official statement.

Yet, there is no announcement from the Maharashtra government on the rising vegetable prices.

"We are at a loss due to this hike. We buy at high prices, customers have reduced the quantity of consumption and because of rains, a lot of the stock gets damaged. Earlier, customers used to buy a kilo but now, hardly anyone buys half a kg. We are incurring a loss of 30 to 40 percent," a vegetable vendor at Santacruz residential vegetable market said.

The current uncertainty and lack of a long-term solution leave both customers and vendors in a state of distress. The question remains whether the government will take more comprehensive measures to alleviate the issue of rising vegetable prices and provide relief to citizens.

The prolonged duration for supplies and prices to normalize, estimated to be up to three months, can escalate consumer discontent and frustration with the government's handling of the situation. As the prices of essential vegetables continue to surge, the financial burden on low-income households and vulnerable communities is likely to increase, potentially leading to public dissatisfaction with the overall economic situation.