A bumper tomato crop has led to a free fall in prices of the ‘red fruit’ across Nashik and Pune districts in Maharashtra, causing panic and despair among farmers.
According to market sources, tomato prices have plummeted sharply from Rs. 35 per kg to an incredible Rs. 2 a kilo in barely a fortnight. Ironically, the retail price of tomatoes in most cities in the country continue to be around Rs. 35 a kilo.
“Until recently, I was making Rs. 150-200 per crate of tomatoes. Now, I get a paltry Rs. 40 per crate which roughly holds 20 kg of tomatoes,” said Nana Shitole, a farmer in Nashik’s Chandwad Taluk, speaking to The Hindu .
For 60-year-old Appa Deokar in Dindori Taluk, the tomato crop has been the bane of his life this year. “In July, a plant disease wrecked my tomato crop, almost halving my output. And now, a bumper harvest is forcing me to throw away the excess tomatoes.”
“Heavy and prolonged rains this monsoon has led to a 20 per cent increase in the tomato cultivation area across Maharashtra. This has translated into excess supply but low demand,” said Shiram Gadhave, president, Vegetable Growers Association of India (VGAI), speaking to The Hindu .
Farmers are getting a pittance at Rs. 3-4 a kg, while their production costs are anywhere between Rs. 7-10 a kg, said Mr. Gadhave, remarking that as tomato was a perishable commodity, farmers had no choice but to make do with whatever price that was on offer.
Wholesalers and authorities say the massive inflow of tomato crates into the Pimpalgaon Baswant tomato market - lionized as the largest tomato market in Asia – were likely to contribute further to the fall in prices. Around 1.5 lakh crates of tomatoes arrive daily at the Pimpalgaon Baswant market.
“Till September, the prices were at a healthy Rs. 800-1100 per crate. Now, we are inundated with tomatoes. Farmers are forced to dump their produce and accept ludicrous prices like Rs. 35 a crate,” said Mokal Zanle, of Amar Vegetables in Pimpalgaon.
According to Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) president Nanasaheb Patil, declining exports to Pakistan and Bangladesh has further contributed to the steep decline in tomato prices.
“Farmers have been hamstrung in turns by a delayed monsoon, a plant virus which destroyed the first two plantation cycles and unseasonal rains. The fourth cycle, which led to a bumper crop last month, has arrived at a time when demand in other States has markedly reduced,” explained Mr. Patil, remarking that farmers were forced to “take it or leave it” when food processing companies swooped down to buy their produce.
While retail prices continued to be stable in the urban parts of Pune, the Nashik effect was visible in the outskirts.
“We have been selling tomatoes at Rs. 25-30 kg since September. But prices may dip as the winter wears on. In Katraj, prices are already down to Rs. 10 a kilo,” said Prashant Bodas, a vegetable retailer in Gultekdi.
