Government today said, rise in tomato prices is a temporary phenomenon and rates in the national capital region have started to cool down with increase in supply from Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.<br/><br/>Wholesale prices of tomato, which were ruling as high as 60 rupees per kg in Azadpur Mandi two days back, today fell by up to twenty rupees per kg to forty rupees per kg although retail prices are still ruling at 50 to 80 rupees per kg depending on the quality and locality. <br/><br/>According to an official of Agriculture Ministry, this is a lean season for tomato. The price rise is a temporary phenomenon and it will be over soon. He said wholesale tomato prices have started cooling down in the national capital on improved supplies and expressed confidence that prices in other parts would also ease with the arrival of fresh crop.<br/><br/>The tight supply-demand situation owing to some rabi crop damage has flared up tomato prices in both wholesale and retail market in last more than 15 days across the country. <br/><br/>As per the latest government estimate, the country's tomato output is pegged at 18.28 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June) as against 16.38 million tonnes in the previous year. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha are the major tomato growing states.