KARACHI, July 31: Suspension of arrival of trucks in the Sabzi Mandi from Balochistan has caused a phenomenal jump in price of tomato to Rs60-80 per kg, depending on the quality, from Rs20 last week.

Prior to rains, tomato was selling at Rs14 per kg. Its wholesale price has now increased to Rs50 per kg from Rs16 per kg.

The price of a 12 kg wooden box of tomato now ranges between Rs600-800 as compared to Rs150-200.

“Arrival of trucks, carrying tomato, from Balochistan crop has virtually come to standstill due to collapse of a main bridge at Hub road,” Chairman Falahi Anjuman, Wholesale Vegetable Market, Super Highway, Haji Shahjehan told Dawn on Thursday. Around 50-60 trucks of tomato used to arrive daily from upcountry.

He said truck owners, which had gone to Balochistan to load tomato, were arriving empty handed following the collapse of the bridge.

Despite the fact that rains had partially affected the tomato crop in Balochistan but the crop was sufficient to meet the entire country’s demand, he said adding that the price has surged owing mainly to suspension of arrival of trucks from Balochistan.

He said devastating rains in Sindh had cut to size the trading activities in the mandi, thus restricting the arrival of trucks, loaded with various vegetables, from upcountry to below 100 daily as compared to 400 in normal days. He said that truck drivers were hesitant to ply on dilapidated roads in the interior Sindh.

Another meteoric price hike was witnessed in coriander (dhania), rising to Rs300 per kg in wholesale market from Rs60 per kg last week. Prior to rains, it was available at Rs20-25 per kg in wholesale. In local markets, coriander was hardly available and vegetable dealers were charging Rs400 per kg in case of any availability. Shahjehan said rains had severely damaged coriander crop in Sindh besides shrinking the movement of trucks from the province.

Onion prices had already surged to Rs8 per kg in the markets from Rs7. Till Thursday, its prices were intact. However, its wholesale prices had surged in the Sabzi Mandi on Thursday to Rs10-12 per kg from Rs5-6 per kg last week. He linked the increase in wholesale price of onion to further shrinkage in arrival of trucks from Balochistan.

Potato has been only exception to get a direct hit from the persistent rains as the Punjab crop had already found way into the cold storages. In various areas, potato is still being sold at Rs15 for 2kg. Its wholesale price is tagged at Rs4 per kg.

Super Highway Subzi Mandi had further witnessed an increase in the rates of other greens which were mainly arriving from Sindh crops. For instance, bitter gourd (karela) prices further jumped to Rs30 from Rs22 per kg. Ahead of rains, it was selling at Rs 8-10 per kg.

Wholesale price of lady finger (Sindh crop) further surged to Rs25-30 from Rs14-15 per kg. It was available at Rs6 to 8 per kg two weeks back.