Chennai, Aug 7 (IANS) The cost of preparing a vegetarian thali at home has gone up by 34 per cent while that of a non-vegetarian thali went up by 13 per cent in July as compared to the input prices that prevailed in June 2023, CRISIL said in a report.

According to the report, in July, the cost of cooking a vegetarian thali at home stood at Rs 33.7 (June rate Rs 26.3) whereas the cost of non-vegetarian home meal was at Rs 66.8 (June rate Rs 60).

According to CRISIL, a vegetarian thali comprises roti, vegetables (onion, tomato, and potato), rice, dal, curd, and salad. For a non-vegetarian thali, chicken has been considered instead of dal.

Broiler prices for July 2023 are estimated.

CRISIL said out of the 34 per cent rise in the cost of vegetarian meals, 25 per cent can be attributed to the 233 per cent hike in tomato price last month.

In June, the tomato price was Rs 33/kg and shot up to Rs 110/kg in July.

Tomatoes aside, the other ingredients that heated up the cost side last month as compared to June were the prices of onion that went up by 16 per cent, potato by 9 per cent, chilli 69 per cent, and cumin by 16 per cent.

However, given the lower quantities of these ingredients used in a thali, their cost contribution remains lower than some of the vegetable crops, CRISIL said.

On the other hand, the cost of a non-vegetarian thali rose at a slower pace as the price of broilers, comprising more than 50 per cent of the cost, likely declined 3-5 per cent on-month in July, the report notes. “

"A 2 per cent on-month decline in the price of vegetable oil provided some respite from the increase in cost of both thalis," the report said.

SURAT - As the nation grapples with surging tomato prices, some devious traders in Surat are seizing the opportunity to turn a quick profit at the expense of public health. Footage from a CCTV camera showing a man collecting discarded, rotten tomatoes from garbage and selling them at cheap prices has sparked widespread public outrage.

In the footage that is making the rounds on social media, a man can be seen salvaging inedible tomatoes dumped in a tractor. These rotten tomatoes are reportedly being sold at discounted rates in the local market, with unsuspecting customers lured in by the low price amidst the overall tomato price hike.

Reacting to the scandalous CCTV footage, traders from the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) confirmed the severity of the situation. They noted that the footage provides indisputable evidence of unscrupulous individuals exploiting the current high tomato prices to sell substandard produce.

The APMC traders suggested that these tainted tomatoes might be sold outside the traditional market setting, which could explain their suspiciously low cost. They emphasized that this discovery serves as a warning for consumers attracted to cheaper tomatoes in the current market situation.

The APMC members acknowledged that the traders at the APMC market may discard substandard tomatoes, providing an opportunity for unprincipled individuals to collect them from the garbage and then sell them to unsuspecting buyers. This incident underscores the potential threats to public health when unregulated trading practices intersect with fluctuating market conditions.

Surat, India: The city is witnessing a surge in vegetable prices, triggered by heavy monsoon rains across Gujarat and other states. The onslaught of the monsoon season has dramatically impacted agricultural yield, causing a significant dip in the market supply of various vegetables, including tomatoes.

Currently, the Surat Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) market receives just 150 to 200 tonnes of tomatoes daily, a steep drop from the typical inflow of 300 tonnes. This mismatch between supply and demand has sent prices skyrocketing, making it challenging for ordinary citizens to afford even basic vegetables. The spike in prices of other vegetables such as cauliflower, lemon, chili, ginger, guar, chickpeas, papdi, and okra has compounded the woes of the economically vulnerable.

Farmers across the state are grappling with crop loss due to the double whammy of an initial cyclone followed by heavy rains. This weather-induced agricultural crisis has led to a consequent surge in the prices of tomatoes, guar, lemon, chili, papdi, choli, tindola, okra, coriander, green onion, and ginger.

According to Babu Shaikh, a wholesaler at APMC, the price for a 20 kg batch of cauliflower, which was Rs 200 to Rs 260 last month, has soared to Rs 500 to Rs 600. Tomatoes have seen a massive price hike from Rs 700 to Rs 750 to a staggering Rs 1800 to Rs 2000. Lemons, which were priced at Rs 400 to Rs 500, now cost between Rs 500 and Rs 600.

Chili prices have escalated from Rs 1200-1500 to Rs 1800-2000, while Guar, earlier priced at Rs 400-500, now stands at Rs 1100-1150. Choli, which was Rs 800-1000, is now selling for Rs 1000-1200.

According to traders, there is hope for price normalization once the monsoon season subsides, and regular agricultural activities resume. However, until then, residents of Surat may have to grapple with the skyrocketing prices of their daily vegetables.

Surat: As inflation rises, it seems even potatoes aren't safe. The rising vegetable prices have apparently driven thieves to brazen new heights, with a vegetable wholesaler in Surat reporting a bizarre theft of 17 sacks of potatoes. The incident occurred in Mota Varachha Saurashtra Township, where an unidentified individual reportedly stole 17 bags of potatoes, each weighing 50 kg, worth a total of Rs 17,000. The Uttaran police station has registered a complaint regarding the incident.

Typically, Surat's law enforcement deals with complaints regarding thefts from homes and offices, but now, they find themselves investigating the theft of vegetables, illustrating the impact of escalating prices. Keshavlal Devjibhai Patel, a vegetable trader operating in Mota Varachha, Saurashtra Township, at A.B.C. Circle, had procured 45 sacks of potatoes on June 30. He left 43 of these sacks outside his shop on July 3, only to discover 17 of them stolen the next day.

The theft was first noticed by the neighboring betel leaf seller, who called Keshavlal the following morning to alert him. Upon investigation, Keshavlal confirmed the loss of 17 sacks of potatoes worth Rs 17,000 and promptly reported the theft to Uttaran police station, who have since initiated an investigation.

The investigation took an interesting turn as the police identified a suspicious rickshaw in the surveillance footage. The video shows an unknown individual loading the potato sacks onto the rickshaw and speeding off. The rickshaw's number plate, discernible in the footage, has provided a crucial lead for the police.

Speaking about the incident, Keshavlal's son, Hiren, said, "My father runs a wholesale vegetable shop here. He had bought 45 sacks of potatoes from Disha and left them outside the shop, only for 17 of them to be stolen. Each sack costs Rs 1,000, so in total, we've lost potatoes worth Rs 17,000. We've filed a complaint with the police, and we hope that the thieves are apprehended soon."

Surat, a bustling city in Gujarat, is witnessing a dramatic rise in vegetable prices, making everyday staples like onions, coriander, okra, and cauliflower unaffordable for many households. This price surge, fueled by seasonal rains and reduced vegetable production, has severely affected the budgets of families, particularly those from low and middle-income groups.

In the past month alone, the costs of multiple vegetables have doubled or even tripled. A kilogram of tomatoes, previously available for Rs 120, and ginger, priced at Rs 200, have skyrocketed to the point that they are now beyond the reach of many families. Similar trends are seen with green onions, coriander, and okra, with coriander witnessing the steepest climb. Once priced at Rs 200-300 per kg, it now costs a staggering Rs 900-1000 per kg.

Looking at a larger quantity, the cost of 20 kg of Gilole surged from Rs 160-180 to a whopping Rs 600-620. Additionally, the price of Bhindi rose from Rs 200-300 to Rs 800-1000 for the same quantity. Cauliflower, too, saw a price double from Rs 180-200 to Rs 400-500.

The Surat Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) further reports that the wholesale prices for 20 kg of guar, mint, chilli, and cabbage have soared from Rs 50 to Rs 200. This surge is not confined to wholesale prices; retail markets have seen an even steeper increase, with most vegetables crossing the Rs 100 mark.

The director of Surat APMC, Babubhai Shaikh, attributed this price escalation to two main factors: adverse weather conditions and changing farming patterns. Persistent heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in fields, resulting in significant crop damage. Concurrently, farmers opted for alternative crops this season due to the non-remunerative prices received for tomatoes and ginger in the previous season. "When farmers don't get a fair price for their produce, they change their crops the next season, which can further inflate prices," explained Shaikh. This predicament emphasizes the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to changing climate and market dynamics.

Chennai, July 1 (IANS) Last month, common man saw red in Tomato -- not only its colour, but also its price as it touched the stars owing to lower production, said a report by Bank of Baroda.

The good news is that with the arrival of the July-November crop season, the prices may ease.

“On sequential basis, the average retail price of tomato went up by 38.5 per cent in June. On wholesale basis as well, tomato price rose by 45.3 per cent in the same period,” said Dipanwita Mazumdar, Economist at  Bank of Baroda, in the report.

As per data, tomato production has moderated by 0.4 per cent from 20,694 (‘000 MT) in 2021-22 to 20,621 (‘000 MT) as per first advance estimates of 2022-23, the report noted.

“State-wise data reveal that Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Odisha account for 51.5 per cent of total production of tomato. For states such as Gujarat, production has fallen by 23.9 per cent, and for Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh, the drop in production is about 20 per cent,” the report said.

As the Rabi harvest season for tomato is December-June, the crop might be impacted due to heat wave or erratic rainfall, hence there is a sudden upward blip in prices.

“But with the arrival of July-November crop season, some easing of the trajectory might be seen,” the report noted.

The unanticipated price shock has resulted in an upswing in vegetable inflation.

The tomato price spiral is visible in months such as June, September and November; hence there is a seasonal trend in tandem with the harvesting and arrival of the vegetable.

The cycles of price increase are also short-lived not exceeding 4-5 months generally. Hence what comes as a comfort in this case is that, the current upswing may soon see a reversal with the arrival of fresh crop, the report said.

New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) Although the arrival of the southwest monsoon has brought a much-needed respite from the intense heat, but it has also led to a surge in tomato prices across the nation.

In numerous locations across the national capital, including the Azadpur Mandi, tomatoes are being sold at or above Rs 80 to 100 per kg.

The wholesale dealers attribute the issue to heavy rainfall in various regions of north India which has resulted in damage to the tomato crops, thereby limiting the availability of an adequate supply and causing a price increase.

Bitter gourd and pointed gourd (parwal) have also seen a spike and are currently priced at Rs 60-70 per kilogram.

Even traditionally cheaper options like zucchini and ladies finger, commonly used in households during the summer season, have experienced significant price increases. These vegetables are now being sold at Rs. 45 to 50 per kg in the current market.

Surprisingly, ginger, often used as a spice in tea, is now priced at Rs 400 per kg.

Meanwhile, potatoes are available at a price of Rs 20 to 25 per kg.

“As a result of these rising prices, customers have been forced to reduce the quantity of vegetables they purchase, trying to balance their budgets accordingly. In the national capital, the skyrocketing prices of tomatoes can be attributed to the limited supply from states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh,” said Mahesh, a wholesaler in Azapur Mandi.

Shyam lal, a vegetable seller in East Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar area, said that due to rise in prices, there has been a significant fall in sales.

“The prices of tomato, ginger and other vegetables have shot up. We too have to buy limited stock from mandis because there are now limited customers. The profit margin has also gone down,” said Shyam Lal.

Kuldeep Sharma, a buyer, said that the household budget has been adversely affected by the sudden increase in prices of commonly used vegetables like tomatoes and this situation has made it extremely challenging for middle-class families to sustain themselves.

Another buyer, Rajendra, shared that he is the sole earner in his family, earning a monthly income of Rs 20,000.

In addition to meeting other expenses, such as paying his daughter's school fees and house rent, the skyrocketing prices of tomatoes have forced his family to completely eliminate it from their diet.

Rajendra expressed hope that tomato prices will return to normal so that people in similar circumstances can afford them once again.

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) The Central government has said that it has not restricted or prohibited the export of onions, and that $523.8 million worth of onions from April to December 2022 were exported.

The extant export policy of onions is 'free', it has said, adding that only the export of onion seed is 'restricted' and that too is permitted under authorisation from the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT), the commerce ministry said in a statement.

DGFT through its notification issued on December 28, 2020, had amended the export policy, bringing onion (of all varieties) in cut, sliced or broken in powder form and Bangalore Rose onions and Krishnapuram onions excluding cut, sliced or broken in powder form from 'prohibited' to 'free' category.