Lean arrivals push up tomato prices in Andhra Pradesh ahead of festive season
Madanapalle, Asia’s largest tomato market, gets 62 tonnes on Wednesday against up to 1,300 tonnes a day in the peak season; traders expect demand for Dasara and Diwali to keep prices high
Tomato prices in Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema districts are surging ahead of the festive season, as shipments to the region's largest tomato market, Madanapalle, have sharply declined. On September 30, 2026, only 62 tonnes of tomatoes arrived at the market, compared to 88 tonnes the previous day. Prices for the first-grade produce reached ₹410 per 10 kg, second-grade tomatoes went for ₹200 to ₹290, and last-grade tomatoes were sold at ₹260.
In retail markets surrounding Madanapalle, Kadapa, Tirupati, and Kurnool, tomatoes were available for ₹45 to ₹50 per kilogram. The normally bustling market, which handles ₹350 crore worth of trade daily and typically sees 900 to 1,300 tonnes of tomatoes per day during peak season, is currently experiencing a period of low arrivals due to unfavorable weather and the increased tomato harvest for festivals like Dasara, Diwali, and the Ayyappa Deeksha.
Traders anticipate local prices to stay around ₹50 per kg or higher unless tomato arrivals improve. The tomato market is notorious for its price fluctuations; in June 2023, first-grade produce skyrocketed to ₹1,400 per 10 kg following a high arrival of 615 tonnes daily, while last year prices plummeted to just ₹9 per kg. Farmers find the current ₹370 price for first-grade tomatoes acceptable compared to last year's prices, but the retail prices of ₹50 do not compensate for commissions, transport, and wastage.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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