Prices of key vegetables including tomato and potato have risen this week in the national capital and other parts of the country due to trading in the futures market and hoarding, impacting the common man.

Soaring of tomato retail prices to Rs 40 a kg in Delhi is also because of high exports to Pakistan and late arrivals of the produce from Himachal Pradesh, according to traders.

Potato, brinjal, tomato and green peas have become costly in Delhi, leading to reduced intake, they said.

According to the rates published by Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Azadpur, which is Asia's largest wholesale market of fruits & vegetables, potato is selling in the range of Rs 6-10.50 a kg over the past two days, pushing up its retail price considerably.

Brinjal is available for Rs 6-16 per kg in the same market, while tomato is selling at Rs 5-22/kg. The only solace is that cost of kitchen staple onion is stable at Rs 10-15 a kg in retail in Delhi.

Other cities are also facing the brunt of the price rise.

The National Horticulture Development Foundation (NHRDF, an arm of ICAR), which monitors prices as well as arrivals of three farm produce - onion, garlic and potato - confirmed the rise in prices of potato in major cities.

While Potato sold at Rs 7.25 a kg in Agra yesterday, it was available for Rs 8.50/kg in Ahmedabad today, Bangalore (Rs 11.50 per kg on Tuesday), Mumbai (Rs 11.50 a kg yesterday) and Chennai (Rs 12 per kg yesterday), according to price list on the website of NHRDF. .