The farms of Pakistan’s tomato capital Badin have resumed supplies to the markets across the country. The fresh crop of tomatoes is ready for supply in Lower Sindh’s coastal district and the market rates of the vegetable are going down to Rs. 50 per kilogram after resumption of supplies from Badin, ARY News reported.
According to local sources, hundreds of trucks are leaving Badin daily carrying tomatoes to the markets across the country.
The price of tomatoes in Karachi and other parts of the country hit the highest-ever mark of up to Rs. 400 per kilogram as the authorities failed to stabilize the prices of the vegetable due to diminishing supplies. The price hike was attributed to a cessation in the supply of imported tomatoes until the local crop could meet the market needs.
The price of tomatoes come down to an extent after the government issued permits to bring in 15,500 tonnes of Iranian tomato to Pakistan. A cash crop, tomatoes provide high yields and ready for harvest in a relatively short time. But most growers prefer not to cultivate the crop more than once a year.
According to a 2017 report the country’s annual production was 543,160 tonnes of which Sindh, the biggest contributor, grows 35 per cent of the yield. Balochistan produces 27pc of the crop, Punjab 19pc and KP contributes 16pc of the vegetable production.
[ Pakistan Rs. 100 = €0,58 ]