Demand for tomatoes high despite prices slump

Although the prices of tomatoes drop, the demand is high at the Thiri Marlar Wholesale Centre of Mandalay, according to the tomato wholesalers.
The country sees a high yield this year and the trucks between 15 to 20 arrive at the Thri Marlar Wholesale Centre per day.
Currently, although the price of tomatoes drops from between K2,000 to K2,500 per box contacting 18 visses of small size tomatoes, while a box containing 18 visses of large size tomatoes to K6,000, the demand is still on the rise, said U Aung Moe Naing, owner of the Aung Wholesale Centre.
“The tomato prices decline but the demand is high as the production rate is also high across the nation this season. The price is convenient for the customers. We face some difficulties as we cannot trade peacefully due to the fixed opening and closing hours of the market. The infection rate of the disease also declines recently. Therefore, the officials should ease the restriction for the markets in each township. If so, it will be a win-win situation for both the buyers and vendors, including farmers. They should review the operating hours of the market. The current tomato transaction is normal despite the high demand,” he said.
Moreover, one housewife who came to Nyaungbin Market of Aungmyaythazan Township said,” the people began panic buying in the market as the price of tomato is K600 per viss. I also bought two visses of tomatoes.”
The Thiri Marlar market receives the tomatoes produced from Innlay, Ywangan and May Myo townships daily and also trades various types of raw vegetables. — Min Htet Aung (Mdy Sub-Printing House)/GNLM