Tomatoes, ladies’ fingers at Rs 80/kg: Veggie price on fire, experts blame it on heavy rain

Peas are costing Rs 150 per kg, which were Rs 40 to 50 per kg a month ago. Similarly, cucumber is Rs 80 per kg, which was Rs 40 per kg a month ago

tomatoes prices, vegetable price hike, punjab rain, indian express

The tomato season in Solan, known for its high-quality produce, has also been affected. (Express Archives)

Vegetable prices have gone through the roof in the Tricity, with tomatoes and various other vegetables touching Rs 80 to 90 per kg. Only a fortnight ago, the price of tomatoes was just Rs 50 per kg.

While ladies’ fingers (bhindi) have touched Rs 80 per kg, which was around Rs 30 per kg a month ago, bottle gourd and pumpkin are in the range of Rs 60-80 per kg. While bottle gourd was Rs 30 per kg a month ago, pumpkin was around Rs 20 per kg.

Cauliflower, which is being sold at Rs 100 per kg, was around Rs 40 per kg a month ago while capsicum, which is being sold at Rs 120 per kg, was 60 per kg a month ago.

One kilogram of ginger is now costing Rs 250 per kg which was Rs 80 per kg a month ago. Similarly, garlic, which was being sold at Rs 100 per kg a month ago, is now costing Rs 160 per kg.

Onion is being sold at Rs 60 per kg, which was around Rs 20 per kg a month ago and potatoes, which were Rs 20 per kg earlier, are being sold at Rs 50 per kg.

Peas are costing Rs 150 per kg, which were Rs 40 to 50 per kg a month ago. Similarly, cucumber is Rs 80 per kg which was Rs 40 per kg a month ago.

Small Vegetable Sellers’ Association president Mohammad Idrish stated that “because vegetables are coming from hilly region and other states, rates have increased almost three to four times due to rain there”.

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“At least till the time rain is there, there doesn’t seem any relief in sight in the vegetable and fruit prices. Vegetables like tomatoes are coming from hills, Nasik and other cities like Bangalore, where it is heavily raining,” he said.

Chandigarh grain market in Sector 26 and other places get their vegetable and fruit supplies from other states.

Another key reason

Farmers also stated that a key reason for high tomato prices is that the tomato crops have been damaged due to heavy rainfall in the Muradabad region.

The region is known for its extensive tomato farming, with tomatoes from here reaching Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi NCR and Haryana. However, the recent heavy rain in Muradabad has destroyed tomatoes in the fields.

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The farmers of the region said that tomatoes are rotting on plants and the waterlogged fields are decaying the plants. As a result, the farmers are uprooting their tomato crops to make way for other cultivation.

The tomato season starts in June in Solan when the crop from irrigated areas starts reaching the market and lasts till November.

Local tomato is sold in various states such as Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Known for its quality, tomato grown in Solan district fetches a high price in the market and it is the main cash crop of the area.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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