Tomato price skyrockets in India

Audio 01:32

In November 2021, the price of tomatoes increased by 142% on average in India.

© Wikimedia / Procsilas Moscas

By: Côme Bastin Follow

1 min

In India, under the effect of climate change, the price of tomatoes is breaking all records.

A variation that impacts the poorest households and a large number of peasants, according to our correspondent on site.

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sums it up well, with the headline “ 

 ”, because the fruit, like the bulb, is a fundamental ingredient in Indian cuisine.

They are found in almost all of its curries.

We are already used to very important revolts in India when the price of onion soars, we then speak of “onion crisis”.

But this year, we are witnessing a tomato crisis.

In November, the price of red fruit exploded with an average 142% increase.

It sold in many parts of the country for more than one euro, or even two euros per kilo, against 30 or 40 cents in normal times.

A crisis triggered by climate change

The cause is an out of control climate with 47% excess rainfall, due to erratic monsoons in the south and northeast of the country. In Karnataka where I am, it has been raining since June and the sun is barely returning today. Scores of farmers have seen their tomato crop rot on the spot. According to various analysis firms such as CRISIL, prices should not return to normal for several months.

For many unions, this tomato crisis triggered by climate change once again underscores the impasse of the Indian agricultural system and the need to ensure minimum prices for producers and limit the margins of intermediaries.

This while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just backed down on his attempt to liberalize agriculture, which has been provoking monster demonstrations by peasants for a year now.

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