The spiralling price of tomatoes in open markets of Chittoor and Annamayya districts, which have the records of the largest acreage of the vegetable in Asia, has brought smiles to the farmers.
The price of the second-grade tomato varieties went up to ₹85 a kg in the open market, while the first-grade varieties meant for exports commanded a price beyond ₹100 a kg on June 28 (Wednesday). The wholesale price of the first-grade varieties stood at ₹82 a kg while the second-grade varieties were available for ₹68 a kg in Madanapalle.
Deputy Director (Horticulture) D. Madhusudhan Reddy attributed the sudden jump in prices to the sharp decline in production and high demand for the vegetable.
