The price of the everyday staple has been climbing steeply for the past couple of weeks, and now stands at almost 200 rupees (£2; $3) a kilo in certain parts of India - a sharp shift from the usual 40-50 rupees. The costly tomato has wreaked havoc on wallets, in kitchens and even on the streets. McDonald's recently made news - not for adding a new dish - but dropping tomatoes from its menu in most of its outlets in northern and eastern India. It cited the unavailability of quality tomatoes "due to seasonal crop issues" as the reason. The skyrocketing prices have been particularly hard on India's middle and lower classes, who make up the bulk of the population. Experts say that bad weather conditions have damaged crops, fuelling shortages in the market and a mismatch between demand and supply. India often faces supply-demand challenges when it comes to perishable, but essential, vegetables like the onion and tomato. Both crops are grown almost around the year and produce from different states hits the market during different months.
