Tomato prices now in downward trend

Tirupati: Giving a respite to the consumers and agony to the farmers, tomato prices again dwindling to reach a new low. Since the beginning of this week, the prices in Madanapalle tomato market which is said to be the biggest one in Rayalaseema, the price is varying between Rs.4 and Rs 8 per kg , whereas the retail price was Rs.10 on Friday.

With the prices fluctuating towards the minimum level, the tomato farmers are feeling the heat while the consumers express happiness. With the prices of onions and eggs still soaring up, the fall in tomato prices is cheered by the most of the women buyers at Rytu Bazar.

But, this time it is the turn of farmers to feel the pinch. They have cultivated tomatoes in about 20,000 hectares in Rayalaseema. Due to diseases to tomato plants especially in Chittoor district, they had to spend more on pesticides and labourers which increased their input costs. The prices of tomatoes have reached Rs.100 per kg in July in retail markets and varied between Rs 50- Rs 80 from June to October.

In November also the price was around Rs.40. Almost similar situation prevails every year with subtle changes. Still farmers go for cultivating the crop in more and more acres by seeing the high prices. By the time their crop reaches market they don’t find any demand and the prices fall.

“We have faced such losses for almost 10 years. Now I am not cultivating tomato during this season”, said a farmer from B Kothakota near Madanapalle. He added that, “the season is not conducive for tomato crop now in Chittoor district as it is very cold.

Crop will not give good yield. On the contrary, in Anantapur, the conditions will give them good yield. The tomato stocks come to the market yard from Mydukur in Kadapa district and several parts of Anantapur district. Even at Rs.4-5, the farmers there feel happy but in Chittoor district, farmers will get huge loses at this price, he observed.

Another farmer D Babu said, ``we have to buy logs of Eucalyptus to keep support to every plant which results in additional burden. If the price crosses at least Rs.10, the farmers will be safe, otherwise they will not get even the production costs.

Madanapalle market committee Chairman Ratakonda Gurrappa Naidu said, `it is normal that farmers have to face the glut during this mid season. Moreover, due to dew and other factors there will be a loss of 60-70 per cent crop yield.

“Now, highest crop comes from Ananthapur district. Out of the 200 metric tons of tomatoes that come to market yard, almost 180 tonnes are from that district. These type of fluctuations will be continued till February 1 week, he added.