Sharp decline in tomato prices in open market worries farmers

Farmers in Yadgir are alarmed by plummeting tomato prices, jeopardizing their income amid abundant local and regional supply.

A sharp decline in tomato prices in the open market has left many growers worried in Yadgir district.

Presently, the growers are selling their produce at ₹6 to ₹7 per kg to the wholesale dealers, who are selling it to the retailers for ₹10 to ₹15 per kg. The retailers are selling tomatoes at ₹20 per kg in the open market.

Extensive produce from local growers apart from huge quantum of the vegetable coming from other places like Kalaburagi and Raichur, and from neighboring Maharashtra and Telangana, the produce caused a significant price decline.

According to the Horticulture Department sources, the growers had planted the vegetable crop in around 450 acres of land in the district, during the Rabi season, majorly in Shahapur taluk, and they hoped for a good price in the future.

Crates filled with vegetables at a shop in Yadgir district on Friday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“We planted saplings in our two acres of land. Now, the present market condition does not seem hopeful, and probably, the amount that we are going to get from the sale of our produce would be half of the expenditure that was incurred so far,” said Channappa, a grower.