M. Palanimaickam, General secretary, Vegetable and fruit merchants association, Koyambedu told IANS, “Tomato was selling at Rs 20 per kg and suddenly the rains started and this led to the loss of whole crops in Karnataka and Andhra as also in parts of Tamil Nadu. Farmers informed us that they have lost heavily and in most cases, the entire crop is lost while in some cases 80 per cent of the crop is lost. Either way, the product has turned costlier and this has led to skyrocketing tomato prices in Chennai.”However, the prices of onion and potato have not increased and continue to be sold at Rs 60 per kg.Abdul Rahim, a trader in Koyambedu market while speaking to IANS said, “We used to receive 70 to 80 loads of tomatoes per day in the market, but it has come down to 30 per cent. This is leading to the price rise.”Traders told that the farmers are heavily hit as almost the entire crop in Andhra Pradesh has been damaged due to the heavy rainfall and waterlogging in farms.
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