Lean arrivals push up tomato prices in Andhra Pradesh ahead of festive season

Only 62 metric tonnes of tomatoes reached Asia’s largest tomato market in Madanapalle of Annamayya district on Wednesday, down from 88 tonnes on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: File Photo Tomato prices continue to rise in the Rayalaseema districts as arrivals at Asia’s largest tomato market, in Madanapalle of Annamayya district, slipped further on Wednesday (September 30, 2026).The Agricultural Market Committee in Madanapalle reported that only 62 tonnes of tomatoes reached the market on Wednesday, down from 88 tonnes on Tuesday.For 10 kg of first-grade produce, ₹410 was quoted, followed by ₹200 to ₹290 for the second grade and ₹260 for the last grade. On September 29, first-grade tomatoes were sold at ₹330 for 10 kg and the second grade at ₹250.In retail markets around Madanapalle, Kadapa, Tirupati and Kurnool, tomatoes were sold at ₹45 to ₹50 a kg.The Madanapalle market yard, which handles around ₹350 crore of trade annually and normally records 900 to 1,300 tonnes a day in the peak season, is passing through a phase of lean arrivals because of adverse climatic conditions in the clusters and increased festival harvesting.Every week, 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes of tomatoes are transported from Madanapalle and Punganur to Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Delhi and other States.Traders said demand from other States during Dasara, Diwali and the Ayyappa Deeksha season would keep local prices at around ₹50 a kg or above unless arrivals improved.The tomato market is known for sharp volatility. In June 2023, first-grade produce shot to ₹1,400 for a 10-kg box (₹140 a kg) on an arrival of 615 tonnes a day; last year, prices crashed to ₹9 a kg.Farmers said the current price of ₹370 was remunerative compared with last year, but retail prices of ₹50 did not fully reach them after commission, transport and wastage. Published - October 01, 2026 09:00 am IST