The decline in tomato prices provides a welcome respite for consumers

As daily wage earners, we find it challenging to afford essential food items at such elevated prices, says a consumer, Laximikant.

Housewives can now breathe a sigh of relief as tomato prices have dropped from Rs 80 per kilogram in markets to Rs 60, after being on the higher side for a while.
Vendors in the Panjim Market, however, believe that prices might soon increase once more. They claimed that two elements causing the uncertainty are fluctuating weather patterns and high demand.
According to a vendor, "Everything is getting more and more expensive, and they expect prices to go up in the coming days depending on availability and rain".
However, costs differ based on where one buys the product. Tomatoes cost Rs 51 per kg at horticultural stores, but cost Rs 70 per kg from rural vendors. The wholesale price per kg is Rs 50, which is marginally less.

The decrease in price has been ascribed to an increased quantity reaching the market. Many households have been impacted by the skyrocketing prices of tomatoes over the last month. Conversely, the cost of beans has increased dramatically from Rs 120 to Rs 160 per kilogram. Piedade Miranda, a vegetable vendor from Orlim stated, "There has been a huge crowd of non-Goans in the market due to their festival indicating that there is an increase in shoppers during this time”. She also mentions that vegetables being something that everyone consumes on a regular basis, often sees fluctuation in costs. Majority of her clients are outsiders, she adds.