Fall in tomato prices: growers’ woes continue

Farmers in nearly six mandals in the district mainly cultivate tomatoes. As the prices have drastically come down during the last two months, they continue to incur heavy losses 

Chittoor: There are about 450 farmers working under the purview of Chittoor Rythu Bazaar and majority of them take up tomato cultivation along with other vegetables.  During the last two months, due to the steep fall of tomato prices, the farmers have been incurring heavy losses as they are not in a position to get their input costs. Some of the farmers are forced to leave their tomato yield in the fields due to lack of demand in the market. Only in the In the months of last June and July, the price of the tomato shot up to Rs.80 to Rs.100   per kg. 

However, during the last two months, it’s price has come down drastically ranging from  Rs.5 to Rs.8. Production of tomato has become a regular farming activity irrespective of it’s yields and earnings in Chittoor, Puthalapattu, G D Nellore, Chandragiri  and Palamaner  Assembly constituencies. 

Farmers in these mandals never experienced such a pathetic condition is as the case now. Throwing their  tomato  crop on the road never took place.  Such incidents had occurred occasionally   in  Madanapalli Division where there is a  giant   tomato market.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Saturday, Balamma, a prosperous farmer who  sells her tomato and other vegetables in Rythu Bazaar in Chittoor  lamented that she was incurring huge loss on tomato due to lack of minimum price “ We are forced to sell our tomato at Chittoor Rythu bazaar for Rs.8 per Kg. We will hardly earn even Rs.5  after meeting the expenses for transport and others. The Government never hears   our plight, ” she said. 

Another farmer Susila from Thummindapalem also expressed similar opinions. She says that tomato cultivation, by and large, was not loss venture as the price of tomato would certainly cross above Rs.50 to  Rs.60 in the coming June and July. .

Asked to comment over the farmer’s   difficulties in the sale of tomato  Jagadesh , Supervisor at Chittoor Ryth  Bazaar admitted that the farmers are badly hit by the decline of the prices of tomato particularly in January and February months every year   “ The farmers from Chittoor, Bangarupalyam, Irala, Thavanapalli, G D Nellore, Gudipala, Puthalapattu and other  mandals bring their tomato produce  to Chittoor Rythu Bazaar every day. The down fall in the price of the tomato would be continued for another 45 days in the district , “ he said. As tomato cultivation is   the main occupation in their   farming activity  in these mandals , the farmers are  habituated to face this loss during these two months every year it is felt. 

Chilakapati Prabhakar