The rise in tomato prices in India can be attributed to a number of factors:

• Inadequate supply due to heavy rains and floods in some tomato-producing regions, leading to crop damage and reduced yields.
• Transportation and logistics issues resulting in delayed shipments and spoilage of tomatoes in transit.
• Increased demand due to the festive season and higher consumption during this time of the year.
• Black marketing and hoarding by unscrupulous middlemen and traders.

To address the issue, the government has taken several steps such as:

• Banning of exports of tomatoes to ensure the domestic supply remains unaffected.
• Imposing a cap on the prices of tomatoes in various states to prevent hoarding and black marketing.
• Encouraging farmers to cultivate alternative crops and providing them with incentives and subsidies.
• Introducing cold storage facilities to prevent wastage and spoilage of tomatoes in transit.

It is hoped that these measures will help stabilize the tomato prices and ensure the availability of this essential vegetable in the market at a reasonable price.