Goa: Fresh harvest takes further bite out of tomato prices

PANAJI: In a welcome relief to consumers, tomato prices have fallen further to Rs 39 per kg at the Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd (GSHL) outlets across the state.
"There is fresh harvest coming into the state from Belagavi and as a result the rates in Goa have also reduced," said GSHCL managing director, Chandrahas Desai.
"With more crops expected to come over the coming weeks, the prices will further fall to Rs 25 per kg," he added.
So far, the highest price that tomatoes were sold at the horticulture outlets was Rs 113 per kg, as opposed to retail rates that fluctuated between Rs 120 to 140 per kg.
Heavy rainfall received in July and the damp conditions that continued to prevail throughout the month had damaged the tomato crop.
With supply now stabilising, prices of tomatoes in the retail market have also reduced, with the fruit selling at Rs 50 per kg. "We are hoping that the supply from neighbouring states will continue to remain stable. That way, tomato prices will further fall to Rs 30 per kg," said a vendor in the Panaji market, Aladdin Shaikh.
Vendors, however, said that due to floods in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, there is low production of onions, resulting in less supply to Goa. As a result, a gradual increase in rates may occur in September, owing to which onion prices may increase to Rs 60 to 65 per kg.