LAHORE -  The rates of tomatoes have skyrocketed to over Rs100 per kg from Rs40-50, showing a jump of more than 100 percent just in a single week, as the government has halted tomatoes import from India.

The market sources said that tomatoes were available in market in the range of Rs40-50 a kg but after the suspension of trade with India through Wagha border, the prices have jumped to as high as Rs100 per kg which will go further up as the local supply from Punjab cities will not start before April/May next year.

Presently, the country needs supply of at least 300 truckloads, (4,000 tons) with each truck having capacity of around 18 tons, while the local production is not more than 110 tons. The production of tomatoes from Punjab will be started at the end of April, with limited supply from interior Sindh due to abrupt changes in weather conditions, they added.

Presently, around 60 truckloads of tomatoes from Dera Murad Jamali, Jakababad, Badin and Thatta are providing supply to the whole country on daily basis, experts said. The crop of Balochistan has almost ended, while Punjab will take another five months to start production, they said and added that until that time the country will face scarcity of tomatoes, resulting into high prices.

Sources said that the Punjab Agriculture Department Special Secretary had written a letter to the Quarantine Department, working under the National Food Security and Research, to impose temporary ban on import of vegetable from India at the end of November 2016 as the local crop will be ready by then.

Punjab Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association President Amin Bhatti said that as the local supply has not started yet, the government should issue permits for the import of tomatoes to fill the huge gap of demand and supply. He said that no other vegetable is coming from India, resultantly every vegetable item is not available at less than Rs100 per kg.

Presently, tomatoes rates in Indian city of Nasik are around Rs5-7 per kg and if the government issued the permit for import of cheaper tomatoes from India, the prices would decline significantly while no negative impact would come on the local farmers, he added.

Meanwhile, customers saw no relief in Sunday bazaars, as prices of vegetables in these makeshift cheaper markets registered an upward trend. The rates of vegetable particularly of tomato, peas, ladyfinger, cucumber, bitter guard and cauliflower continued to go up not only in Sunday bazaars but also in open market. During a visit, it was observed that the prices of almost all vegetables are high, except onions, in Wahdat Colony, Iqbal Town and Islampura Sunday bazaars.

Presently, most of the cities of central Punjab depend on vegetables supply, especially of onion, tomato, ladyfinger, brinjal and bitter guard, from Sindh or from India to meet the local requirement as harvesting of local crop starts usually at the end of May. So, delay in import of onion from India will further lift its rates in market of provincial capital.

According to a market survey, price of tomato has jumped by more than 100 percent in few days crossing the figure of Rs100-120 per kg in open market while no tomato stall was seen in majority of Sunday bazaars. Last week, tomato was available at Rs30-40 per kg in open market but its price jumped to Rs100 per kg raised the question mark on performance of market committee and other government agencies responsible for controlling inflation and hoarding. Only rotten and substandard onion from Sindh was being supplied to the market. In Sunday bazaars of the city, tomato was not available while limited quantity was also seen in the open markets.

However, onion prices have decreased as onion production has begun in Punjab. Also, improved quality onion is available in the market. According to market survey, capsicum was available for Rs40 per kg, pumpkin at Rs50 per kg, luffa at Rs60 per kg, but sold at Rs70 per kg. Arum price was fixed at Rs80 per kg but sold at higher rate of Rs100 per kg. Cabbage official rate was fixed at Rs20 per kg but was available in limited quantity at Rs30 per kg. Green chilli rate was fixed at Rs60 per kg but it was sold at higher rate of Rs80 per kg. In the same way, bitter guard was selling at Rs70 per kg, both in Sunday bazaars and in open market.