After a gap of four months, the tomato trade picked up giving a comfortable ₹24 a kg on Saturday as against the ₹8 last week at the Madanapalle market, considered the largest in India. The farmers are also a happy lot with the overwhelming response on the exports front, taking a share of more than 90% of the daily arrivals. During the last one week, the daily arrivals stood between 900 to 1,500 tonnes, as against the 150 tonnes early this year.
Following congenial climate with balanced soil moisture in air and soil, the crop witnessed sudden boom over the month, resulting in heavy arrivals into the market. Equally contributing to the phenomenon is the surprising demand from other States. Except in the Madanapalle region, the crop is not widely present anywhere in India, say trade experts here. Madanapalle Market Committee chairman Ratakonda Gurappa Naidu has told The Hindu that as and when the stocks enter the market premises, they are lifted at once for exports to Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana. “Exactly a week ago, 1,506 metric tonnes were exported. Even farmers from Anantapur are coming here expecting good returns,” he said.
He attributed the scenario to scientific way of crop pattern and intervention of the field level staff of the Horticulture department in guiding the farmers. Unlike the previous years when the farmers used to go in for bulk cultivation of tomatoes, this year from March onward, the domestic farmers have followed a methodological cultivation in two or three phases, allowing multiple cutting of the crop. This has led to sustenance of market demand.
Rain threat looms
The farmers have expressed serious concern at the forecast of heavy rain in the region in the coming days. “Heavy rains would damage the crop and its impact would be felt for the next two months with heavy soil moisture and vulnerability of the produce to perish quickly,” Harinatha Reddy, a farmer in Valmikipuram mandal, said.
The traders maintain that in case of adverse climatic conditions in the coming weeks, the possibility of the price skyrocketing to ₹70 a kg , repeating the scenario of last year, is likely.
